AQMD to Toughen Smog Forecast Descriptions

The South Coast Air Quality Management District announced Monday that it is revising the descriptions used in its daily smog forecasts to conform to tougher health warnings required by the federal government.

The new descriptions of how various levels of air pollution affect human health will begin Wednesday. They have long been sought by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and environmentalists.

Two months ago, the district came under fire from the EPA, which charged that the descriptions could mislead the public into believing that air pollution is less harmful than it is.

The changes will have the effect of reducing the number of days each year that the South Coast Air Basin’s air quality will be considered “good.” Under the old definitions, air quality was considered to be good, on the average, about one out of four days. Under the new reporting system, the basin’s air quality will only merit a “good” rating 1 day out of 10.

“Rather than make any public quarrel, it becomes obvious that we should join the pack,” AQMD Deputy Executive Officer Jim Birakos said Monday in announcing the changes.

The decision was welcomed by environmentalists. “It’s about time,” said Mark Abramowitz of the Santa Monica-based Coalition for Clean Air.

Gladys Meade of the American Lung Assn. of California said she was delighted. “We’ve been trying to get them to do this for eight years,” she said.

Before the AQMD’s changes, air quality during identical pollution episodes would be described as “good” by the AQMD and “moderate” by the EPA. In more severe conditions, when the EPA would describe the air as “unhealthful” for everyone, the district would describe it as “unhealthful for sensitive persons.”

Birakos said the district’s new Pollution Standards Index--a scale used to report daily air pollution concentrations and which describes general health effects associated with those concentrations--will be revised as follows:

Air quality will be described as “good” when the PSI index is between 0 and 50. Between 51 and 100 air quality will be described as “moderate.” Air quality will be “unhealthful” between 101 and 199, “very unhealthful” between 200 and 200 and “hazardous” above a PSI of 300.

The old PSI index described air quality as “good” between 0 and 100, “unhealthful for sensitive persons” between 101 and 199, “very unhealthful” between 200 and 299, and “hazardous” at 300 or higher.

A first-stage smog alert will continue to be called when the PSI reaches 200. A second-stage alert occurs when the PSI hits 275.

Birakos said the district will also begin daily forecasts Wednesday of carbon monoxide and nitrogen dioxide levels. The district now issues forecasts only for ozone, which makes up about 95% of what is commonly called photochemical smog. The district also reports the previous day’s levels for ozone, nitrogen dioxide and carbon monoxide.

The South Coast Air Basin includes Los Angeles, Orange, San Bernardino and Riverside counties.