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Complete Health Indicator Report of Number of Unhealthy Days from Carbon Monoxide, PM-10, Lead, Sulfur Dioxide, and Nitrogen Dioxide

Definition

Unhealthy days are determined by the National Ambient Air Quality Standards, which include standards for carbon monoxide, coarse particulate matter (PM-10), lead, sulfur dioxide, and nitrogen dioxide

Numerator

Total number of unhealthy days throughout the state, as determined by the National Ambient Air Quality Standards, attributable to carbon monoxide, coarse particulate matter (PM-10), lead, sulfur dioxide, and nitrogen dioxide

Denominator

Not applicable

Why Is This Important?

The air in New Jersey is affected by many naturally occurring and man-made pollutants. Air quality in the state varies significantly depending on location, time and weather conditions. High or prolonged levels of air pollution are associated with increases in morbidity and mortality from respiratory illnesses, such as asthma and lung cancer. The Clean Air Act requires that National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) be set for carbon monoxide, PM-10, lead, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, and ozone.

Other Objectives

'''Healthy New Jersey 2020 Objective EH-1''': Reduce to zero the number of unhealthful days throughout the state, as determined by the National Ambient Air Quality Standards, attributable to carbon monoxide, coarse particulate matter (PM-10), lead, sulfur dioxide and nitrogen dioxide.

How Are We Doing?

During 2012-2021, there were no air quality exceedances in New Jersey for carbon monoxide, coarse particulate matter (PM-10), or lead. In 2010, the health standards for nitrogen dioxide and sulfur dioxide were revised downward creating stricter air quality standards for New Jersey. Using the new standards, the NO2 standard was exceeded twice in 2010, twice in 2014, 4 times in 2015, and 2 times in 2018. The revised SO2 standard was exceeded 4 times in 2010, 27 times in 2011, once in 2012, 4 times in 2013, 7 times in 2014, and 2 times in 2016. All 2010-2014 SO2 exceedances were measured at a single air monitoring station located in Warren County, NJ. The new SO2 standard was exceeded once in 2018 and once in 2019. NJDEP has determined that a coal-burning power plant located in Pennsylvania, directly across the Delaware River from New Jersey, was the source of the numerous exceedances of the SO2 health standard in Warren County from 2011 to 2014. New Jersey petitioned the USEPA to take action to reduce emissions from the plant, and negotiated an enforceable agreement to shut down its 2 coal units. The plant stopped operating in 2014, and since then there have been no SO2 exceedances in that area. The NO2 exceedances occurred at two air monitoring sites. One monitoring site is located in Bayonne and the other site is at Exit 13 of the New Jersey Turnpike in Elizabeth. NO2 is a combustion product emitted by both stationary and mobile sources, especially those burning diesel fuel.

What Is Being Done?

The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) continues to work to reduce pollution from both mobile sources (eg, cars, trucks, buses, airplanes, trains), and stationary sources (eg, factories, power plants, gas stations, other industrial activities). NJDEP will continue to monitor and identify air pollutants and their sources, using continuous air monitoring stations located throughout New Jersey.

Health Program Information

NJDEP Division of Air Quality, Bureau for Air Quality Planning: [http://www.state.nj.us/dep/baqp/index.html]

Data Tables


Number of Unhealthful Days Attributable to Carbon Monoxide, PM-10, Lead, Sulfur Dioxide, and Nitrogen Dioxide by Pollutant, New Jersey, 2000-2021 (HNJ2020)

Pollutant; CO, PM-10, Pb, SO2, NO2YearNumber of Unhealthy Days
Record Count: 110
Carbon Monoxide20000
Carbon Monoxide20010
Carbon Monoxide20020
Carbon Monoxide20030
Carbon Monoxide20040
Carbon Monoxide20050
Carbon Monoxide20060
Carbon Monoxide20070
Carbon Monoxide20080
Carbon Monoxide20090
Carbon Monoxide20100
Carbon Monoxide20110
Carbon Monoxide20120
Carbon Monoxide20130
Carbon Monoxide20140
Carbon Monoxide20150
Carbon Monoxide20160
Carbon Monoxide20170
Carbon Monoxide20180
Carbon Monoxide20190
Carbon Monoxide20200
Carbon Monoxide20210
Particulate Matter20000
Particulate Matter20010
Particulate Matter20020
Particulate Matter20030
Particulate Matter20040
Particulate Matter20050
Particulate Matter20060
Particulate Matter20070
Particulate Matter20080
Particulate Matter20090
Particulate Matter20100
Particulate Matter20110
Particulate Matter20120
Particulate Matter20130
Particulate Matter20140
Particulate Matter20150
Particulate Matter20160
Particulate Matter20170
Particulate Matter20180
Particulate Matter20190
Particulate Matter20200
Particulate Matter20210
Lead20000
Lead20010
Lead20020
Lead20030
Lead20040
Lead20050
Lead20060
Lead20070
Lead20080
Lead20090
Lead20100
Lead20110
Lead20120
Lead20130
Lead20140
Lead20150
Lead20160
Lead20170
Lead20180
Lead20190
Lead20200
Lead20210
Sulfur Dioxide20000
Sulfur Dioxide20010
Sulfur Dioxide20020
Sulfur Dioxide20030
Sulfur Dioxide20040
Sulfur Dioxide20050
Sulfur Dioxide20060
Sulfur Dioxide20070
Sulfur Dioxide20080
Sulfur Dioxide20090
Sulfur Dioxide20104
Sulfur Dioxide201127
Sulfur Dioxide20121
Sulfur Dioxide20134
Sulfur Dioxide20147
Sulfur Dioxide20150
Sulfur Dioxide20162
Sulfur Dioxide20170
Sulfur Dioxide20180
Sulfur Dioxide20190
Sulfur Dioxide20200
Sulfur Dioxide20210
Nitrogen Dioxide20000
Nitrogen Dioxide20010
Nitrogen Dioxide20020
Nitrogen Dioxide20030
Nitrogen Dioxide20040
Nitrogen Dioxide20050
Nitrogen Dioxide20060
Nitrogen Dioxide20070
Nitrogen Dioxide20080
Nitrogen Dioxide20090
Nitrogen Dioxide20102
Nitrogen Dioxide20110
Nitrogen Dioxide20120
Nitrogen Dioxide20130
Nitrogen Dioxide20142
Nitrogen Dioxide20154
Nitrogen Dioxide20160
Nitrogen Dioxide20170
Nitrogen Dioxide20181
Nitrogen Dioxide20191
Nitrogen Dioxide20200
Nitrogen Dioxide20210

Data Notes

This is Healthy New Jersey 2020 (HNJ2020) Objective EH-1. In 2008, the health standard for lead in ambient air was revised downward. In 2010, the health standards for nitrogen dioxide and sulfur dioxide were revised downward creating stricter air quality standards for New Jersey.

Data Source

Bureau of Air Monitoring, New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection

References and Community Resources

National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) info: [https://www.epa.gov/learn-issues/learn-about-air]

Page Content Updated On 05/22/2023, Published on 05/23/2023
The information provided above is from the Department of Health's NJSHAD web site (https://nj.gov/health/shad). The information published on this website may be reproduced without permission. Please use the following citation: " Retrieved Thu, 28 March 2024 16:38:16 from Department of Health, New Jersey State Health Assessment Data Web site: https://nj.gov/health/shad ".

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