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1. Where does this data come from, and how was this data retrieved?

PM₁₀

Kansas Ambient Air Quality summary data for PM10 were collected by utilizing the query tool in AQS Discoverer Web. Only sites with annual data completeness greater than or equal to 75% were included in this summary. For counties with more than one monitor, the displayed results for each monitor in that particular county appear in the graphs as dashed lines, with the average concentration for the county displayed as a solid line.

PM_2.5

Kansas Ambient Air Quality summary data for PM2.5 were collected by utilizing the Standard Report Criteria Selection tool in AQS. AMP 450 was the report generated to produce the data used for this summary. Only sites with annual data completeness greater than or equal to 75% were included in this summary. For counties with more than one monitor, the displayed results for each monitor in that particular county appear in the graphs as dashed lines, with the average concentration for the county displayed as a solid line.

Ozone (O₃)

Kansas Ambient Air Quality summary data for O3 were collected by utilizing the AIR Explorer website. Data for ozone season in Kansas were analyzed, which runs from April 1 through October 31 each year. Only sites with ozone season data completeness greater than or equal to 75% were included in this summary. Data completeness was determined by viewing the Monitor Values Report produced by the AirData website. For counties with more than one monitor, the displayed results for each monitor in that particular county appear in the graphs as dashed lines, with the average concentration for the county displayed as a solid line.

Sources

AIR Explorer

Air Explorer is a collection of user-friendly visualization tools for air quality analysts. The tools generate maps, graphs, and data tables dynamically. Currently, the tools access ambient concentration data from EPA's Air Quality System (AQS). View the EPA Air Data webpage.

AQS Discoverer Web

Discoverer is a business intelligence tool from Oracle Corporation for retrieving data from relational databases (i.e., an ad hoc query tool.) Discoverer is available to all registered AQS users. View the EPA Air Quality System webpage.

Air Quality System (AQS)

The Air Quality System (AQS) is EPA's repository of ambient air quality data. AQS stores data from over 10,000 monitors; 5000 of which are currently active. As discussed in more detail elsewhere, State, Local and Tribal agencies collect the data and submit it to AQS on a periodic basis. This area is primarily intended for direct users of AQS, i.e., those in the state, local and tribal agencies, and within EPA who load data into the AQS database or use data from this database for analysis. View the EPA Air Quality System webpage.

AirData

The AirData website gives you access to yearly summaries of United States air pollution data, taken from EPA's air pollution databases. The data include all fifty states plus the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. AirData has information about where air pollution comes from (emissions) and how much pollution is in the air outside our homes and workplaces (monitoring). View the AQS Data Mart webpage.

Occupational & Environmental Health Epidemiology

Surveillance indicators allow a state to compare its health or risk status with that of other states, evaluate trends over time within the state, and helps guide priorities for prevention and intervention efforts. This document presents 20 occupational health indicators that provide information about the health status of the working population in Kansas with respect to workplace injuries and illnesses. The data are from 2009, the most recent data available. Data from subsequent years will be added as it becomes available.

Read through the Occupational Health Indicators in Kansas (PDF).

2. What are the health effects of poor air quality?

Symptoms and the severity of the effect of poor air quality can vary greatly from person to person. Some health effects of poor air quality include difficulty breathing, chest pains, coughing, and headaches. People with asthma, bronchitis, emphysema, or other upper respiratory illness are often more susceptible to adverse health effects caused by poor air quality. Determining the quality of the air on a daily basis is difficult for the average person. To help the public understand the quality of the air the Environmental Protection Agency created the Air Quality Index (AQI). To access information for Kansas, go to the AirNow website.

Particulate Matter (PM) is a broad classification of non-gaseous pollutants that consist of very fine solid particles and liquid droplets or aerosols. Examples of these solid particles can include dust, dirt, soot, and particles in smoke. Some particles are directly emitted into the air from sources such as vehicles, factories, construction sites, tilled fields, unpaved roads, stone crushing, and burning of wood. Other particles may be formed in the air when gases from burning fuels react with sunlight and water vapor such as fuel combustion in motor vehicles or at power plants. Particles can be suspended in the air for long periods of time and vary in size.

PM causes a wide variety of health and environmental issues. Health issues include aggravated asthma; respiratory symptoms such as coughing and difficult breathing; chronic bronchitis; decreased lung function and premature death. Elevated PM concentrations result in increased hospital admissions and emergency room visits for people with heart and lung disease. Health problems for sensitive people increase if they are exposed to high levels of PM for several days in a row.

Ground-level ozone triggers a variety of health problems including asthma attacks, reduced lung capacity, and increased susceptibility to respiratory illnesses like pneumonia and bronchitis. Ozone can cause permanent lung damage after long-term exposure. Ozone can irritate lung airways and cause inflammation. Other symptoms include wheezing, coughing, pain when taking a deep breath, and breathing difficulties during exercise or outdoor activities. People with respiratory problems are most vulnerable to elevated ozone levels.