Air Arizona is a free mobile app with alerts, notifications and forecasts
PHOENIX (September 5, 2018) – The Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) launched Air Arizona, a free mobile app with real-time air quality monitoring and forecasts, today. Residents, workers and visitors can download the app to stay informed about air quality, plus learn how to protect themselves from the impacts of pollutants.
ADEQ
At present, the Air Arizona app tracks air quality data for the Miami/Globe and Hayden/Winkelman areas of the state. The focus on these areas was to serve an immediate need to help inform local residents about pollutants emitted during mineral processing activities. Future versions of the app will add areas of concern from around the state.
Real-time and historical sulfur dioxide (SO2) data monitoring, plus lead (Pb) forecasts, along with alerts and notifications, are available through Air Arizona. The Miami/Globe and Hayden/Winkelman areas are in nonattainment for SO2, which is classified by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as a result of exceeding the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) as outlined in the Clean Air Act. The Hayden/Winkelman area is also in nonattainment for lead (Pb). In both areas, smelter owners recently installed pollution controls to reduce emissions.
“While air quality across that state has improved over time, a 2010 revision of the Clean Air Act lowered the SO2 standard. The same was done for lead in 2008. The new pollution controls greatly reduce the chance of exceeding these lower thresholds, but they do not eliminate the risk entirely,” said Timothy Franquist, ADEQ Air Quality Director. “Air Arizona allows the people that live and work in these areas to be better informed about air quality and how to mitigate exposure.”
Available in English and Spanish, the Air Arizona smartphone mobile app provides users with:
- Alerts when the 10-minute average SO2 concentration reaches 200 parts per billion (ppb)
- Notifications when the previous 1-hour average SO2 concentration exceeds the National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS) of 75 ppb
- Lead forecast levels with probability based on daily forecast wind speed and/or direction for the Hayden/Winkelman area
- Notifications when the daily lead forecast level is Moderate or High for the Hayden/Winkelman area
- Health suggestions for protecting yourself and your family
- Information on pollution controls
- Historical pollution data
- Links to additional ADEQ resources
Download the Air Arizona mobile app today:
Additional Resources:
ADEQ Sulfur Dioxide (SO2) Pollution | View >
ADEQ Lead (Pb) Pollution | View >
Miami Sulfur Dioxide (SO2) Nonattainment Area | View >
Hayden Sulfur Dioxide (SO2) Nonattainment Area | View >
Hayden Lead Nonattainment Area | View >