Air Quality Subcommittee

Particulate matter (PM) air pollution caused by windblown dust from unpaved roads and cleared land, trash burning, medical waste burning and tire fires affects air quality in Columbus-Palomas. The Air Quality Subcommittee was established to address air quality issues in the Rural Task Force Region.

"Particulate matter" refers to a mixture of small particles and liquid droplets composed of combustion by-products such as acid nitrates and sulfates, organic chemicals, metals and soil or dust. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, not all particles are equal from a public health perspective, since only particles smaller than 10 microns (PM10) in diameter can enter into the lungs and cause adverse health effects. Smaller fine particles (diameter less than 2.5 microns – PM2.5) can penetrate even deeper into the lungs.

Exposure to coarse and fine particles has been linked to increased respiratory symptoms such as difficulty breathing or coughing, decreased lung function, aggravation of asthma, development of chronic bronchitis, nonfatal heart attacks, and premature death in people with heart or lung disease.

No binational air quality monitoring network exists in Columbus-Palomas as in other border sister cities. A year-long particulate matter air quality monitoring study conducted by the Southwest Consortium for Environmental Research and Policy (SCERP) in 2005-2006 measured consistently high concentrations of PM10 (above the EPA 24-hour PM10 National Ambient Air Quality Standard) at the Jardin de los Niños kindergarten in Palomas and three exceedances of the 24-hour PM2.5 standard at the Columbus-Palomas Port of Entry during the study period. Limited chemical analysis showed that the samples may be predominantly composed of crustal material indicating dust from unpaved roads and disturbed land. Approximately 91% of the roads in Palomas are unpaved and about 84% of the roads in Columbus are unpaved.

Goals/Objectives

Goal to Reduce air pollution

Objective 1: Determine ambient concentrations from pollutant emissions

Objective 2: Assess contributing emissions sources and their relative impacts; and

Objective 3: Develop and implement cost-effective control strategies

Dust Control Workshop Powerpoint Presentations:

Strategies/Actions

Projects

Objective 1: Particulate Matter Air Quality Monitoring in Columbus-Palomas

Objective 2: Scrap Tire Inventory and Clean Up in Palomas and Ascensión Project Summary

Objective 3: Dust Control for Improved Particulate Matter Air Quality in Columbus-Palomas