Sustainable Thurston Report Card

Goal: Maintain air quality standards.

Targets

Continue to meet state and federal air quality standards, including:

  • Particulate Matter (PM) 2.5: 12 micrograms per cubic meter of air, annual average (federal primary standard)
  • Ozone: 0.075 parts per million, 8 hour average (federal primary/secondary standards)

Outlook

SunnySunny, future looks bright.
The region’s air quality continues to meet national standards.

  1. PM 2.5 Pollution
  2. Ozone Pollution

Data Tables

Why is this important?

The Clean Air Act identifies two types of national ambient air quality standards. Primary standards provide public health protection, including protecting the health of sensitive populations such as people with asthma, children, and the elderly. Secondary standards provide public welfare protection, including protection against decreased visibility and damage to animals, crops, vegetation, and buildings.

PollutantStandardAveraging TimeLevelForm
OzonePrimary & Secondary8 hours0.075 ppmAnnual fourth-highest daily maximum 8-hr concentration, averaged over 3 years
Particulate Matter (PM2.5)PrimaryAnnual12 μg/m3Annual mean, averaged over 3 years
SecondaryAnnual15 μg/m3Annual mean, averaged over 3 years
Primary & Secondary24 hours35 μg/m398th percentile, averaged over 3 years
Particulate Matter (PM10)Primary & Secondary24 hours150 μg/m3Not to be exceeded more than once per year on average over 3 years
Carbon MonoxidePrimary8 hours9 ppmNot to be exceeded more than once per year
Primary1 hour35 ppmNot to be exceeded more than once per year

Key Observations

There are two air quality monitoring stations in Thurston County monitoring ozone and fine particulate matter (PM 2.5). The region’s air quality has continued to meet air quality standards over the last 15 years.