Air quality in Olathe

How polluted is Olathe now?

Olathe is the county seat of Johnson County, Kansas, United States. According to a census which was conducted in 2010, Olathe had an estimated population of approximately 126,000 people. This figure ranked it as the fourth most populous city in Kansas. But by 2019, this estimation had risen to 140,545 people.

Towards the middle of 2021, Olathe was experiencing a period of “Moderate” air quality with a US AQI reading of 69. This United States Air Quality Index number is calculated using the levels of six of the most commonly found air pollutants, namely, nitrogen dioxide, sulfur dioxide, ozone, carbon monoxide and both sizes of particulate matter, being PM2.5 and PM10. It can be used as a standard when comparing air quality in other cities around the world. If data is unavailable for all 6 pollutants, a figure can still be calculated by using what figures there are. Olathe has data for three pollutants which were PM2.5 - 20.8 µg/m³, PM10 - 35 µg/m³ and ozone (O₃) - 70 µg/m³. It can readily be seen that the level of PM2.5 was twice the suggested level as recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO). Their suggestion is 10 µg/m³ or less, even though no reading is classed as being safe.

With pollution at this level, the given advice would be to stay indoors and close all doors and windows to prevent the ingress of more dirty air. An air purifier would be beneficial if one is available. Avoid exercising outside until the quality improves and if venturing outside is unavoidable, then wearing a good quality face mask is essential. The table that is published at the top of this page should help with that decision or download the AirVisual app for constant updates as to the state of the air.

Is the level of pollution in Olathe consistent throughout the year?

When looking back at the figures released by IQAir, it can be seen that the poorest quality air was found during the month of June when the reading was 13 µg/m³. The only other month that showed a marked difference was during December when that reading was 10.9 µg/m³ which categorized it as being “Good”. For the remaining ten months of the year, Olathe achieved the WHO target figure of being less than 10 µg/m³. The best month for air quality was February with a very small figure of 4.9 µg/m³. The trend indicates that the latter part of the year was slightly worse but still remained under the target figure.

Historically records pertaining to air quality have been kept since 2017 when the recorded figure was 5.8 µg/m³, followed by a decline the following year to 7.5 µg/m³. A slight improvement was recorded in 2019 with a reading of 6.4 µg/m³, before another decline in 2020 to 8.0 µg/m³. This figure is quite surprising because of the restrictions imposed by the COVID-19 situation. Many vehicles were temporarily unused as their drivers were not required to work from the office, instead they were furloughed and allowed to work from home. This had the effect of drastically reducing pollution within the city center. Many small factories and non-essential production units were also closed which again lead to an improvement in air quality. Yet, for some reason, Olathe recorded the worst annual average figure since records began. We await the 2021 figures to see what the trend will be!

What is the source of polluted air in Olathe?

Cars, trucks and buses powered by fossil fuels are one of the main sources of air pollution. They emit more than half of the nitrogen oxides in the air, and are one of the largest emitters of gases associated with global warming in the United States. Scientific studies have identified that these pollutants have negative impacts on almost every organ in the body.

Mobility is an indispensable part of everyone's life and transportation is what allows us to access various activities and play a part in life. There are, without a doubt, different transport systems with different approaches, which generate a wide range of experiences for the user. While, in the past, walking and cycling dominated the transportation scene, the private motor vehicle gained momentum between the 1950s and 1980s. This domain, driven by an individual interest in traveling, has not considered the great variety of negative impacts on society. The affordability in the price of cars became a factor in their inevitable popularity.

This preference for the excessive use of motor vehicles with fossil fuels is the main cause of global warming. The combustion of this type of fuel generates emissions of gases such as carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide and other gases that heighten the greenhouse effect, acid rain, air, soil and water pollution. While environmental pollution comes not just from motor vehicles, they are among the largest contributors. This reality reflects that the need to mobilize is being met at the expense of our quality of life.

Ozone is a pollutant indirectly produced from internal combustion engines and factory emissions. Most of the VOC and NOx emissions that form ozone are generated in the urbanized parts of the region — areas with more businesses, people and traffic. With the lowest number of unhealthy days ever since the first “State of the Air” report 19 years ago, Kansas has improved its ozone air pollution. Compared to the 2017 report, Kansas improved its ranking significantly with fewer unhealthy ozone days. Due to climate change and warmer temperatures, ozone is more prevalent now than ever and is harder to disperse. This year’s report showed that ozone levels increased in most cities nationwide, in large part due to warmer temperatures in 2016, the second hottest year on record in the U.S. Over the past decades, ozone pollution has decreased nationwide because the nation has cleaned up major sources of the emissions that create ozone, especially coal-fired power plants and vehicle emissions.

The 2018 report also found that Kansas had dropped its levels of year-round particle pollution to the lowest levels ever. However, short-term particle pollution levels were slightly higher than last year. Particle pollution is composed of soot or tiny particles that come from coal-fired power plants, diesel emissions, wildfires and wood-burning devices. Year-round particle pollution levels have dropped which is mainly due to the clean-up of coal-fired power plants and the scrapping of old, polluting diesel engines.

What can be done to reduce air pollution in Olathe?

There are three main sources of air pollution that have been identified. These are industrial sources, mobile sources and indoor sources.

Since 1990, EPA has issued regulations limiting emissions of air toxics from more than 174 groupings of major industrial sources including chemical plants, oil refineries, aerospace manufacturers and steel mills. The requirements in some of these regulations took effect between 1999 and 2011. When fully implemented, these standards are anticipated to reduce annual air pollution by about 1.7 million tons.

There are programs that are reducing mobile source air toxins are low-sulfur gasoline and diesel requirements, heavy-duty engine and vehicle standards, controls for small spark-ignition engines and recreational marine engines, the locomotive and commercial marine rule, standards for non-road diesel engines, and the North American and Caribbean Emission Control Areas (ECAs) established to reduce emissions from ships. Non-regulatory initiatives are also reducing mobile source air toxins.

Clean diesel projects yield immediate public health and air quality benefits. The EPA estimates that for every dollar invested in reducing diesel exhaust, a community may achieve up to $13 in public health benefits.

From 2008 to 2013, the EPA awarded $569 million to replace nearly 73,000 engines in vehicles, vessels, locomotives or other pieces of equipment. The EPA estimates that these projects will reduce emissions by 14,700 tons of PM2.5 over the lifetime of the affected engines.

Improving indoor air in schools is also a major focus as there are numerous, common sources of indoor air pollution found in schools. These include art, science, and cleaning supplies, asthma triggers like dust mites and molds, and diesel exhaust from school buses.

Ozone season is classed as being from 1^st April to the 31^st October each year which are the hottest months of the year when ozone is readily formed. Ozone monitors take measurements at six locations throughout the region. Hourly values are recorded and a rolling eight-hour average is calculated for each monitor. If the eight-hour average reading at any monitor reaches 85 parts per billion (ppb) or higher on a given day, that monitor is said to have “exceeded” the standard on that day.

What can be done to help reduce ozone pollution?

Consider joining a carpool system so each car has multiple occupants instead of usually, just the driver. Take the bus or walk or cycle, especially for short journeys.

Refill vehicles during the cooler evenings which produces fewer fumes and allows what fumes there are to dissipate overnight. During ozone season re-fulling shouldn't take place during the heat of the day.

Try not to use oil-based paints, varnished and solvents when the sun is at its strongest and don’t use them at all during an ozone warning day.

Do not use a lawnmower or other such equipment on days when ozone levels are high. These types of engines have no emission control and emit far more pollution than a gallon of fuel combusted in a car or similar.

What are the adverse health effects associated with air pollution in Olathe?

Exposure to high levels of air pollution can cause a variety of adverse health outcomes. Air pollution can increase the risk of respiratory infections, heart disease, stroke and lung cancer. Both short-term and long-term exposure to air pollutants has been associated with adverse health impacts. The most severe impacts affect people who have pre-existing respiratory problems. Children, the elderly and pregnant women are most susceptible. The most harmful pollutants for health, closely associated with premature mortality, are fine PM2.5 particles that penetrate deep into the lungs.

Particulate matter (PM2.5 and PM10) is the term for particles that are suspended in the air, such as dust, soot, smoke and other fine powdery substances. Large amounts of particulate matter are typically emitted from sources such as diesel vehicles, burning waste and crops as well as coal-fired power plants and factory emissions.

Particles less than 10 microns in diameter (PM10) present a health problem because they can be inhaled and accumulate in the respiratory system.

Particles less than 2.5 microns in diameter (PM2.5) are called "fine" particles and pose greater health risks. Due to their small size (about 1/30 the average width of a human hair), fine particles can lodge deep in the lungs where they can transfer to the bloodstream from the alveoli.

Air pollution represents a major environmental health risk, whether in developed or developing countries.

It is estimated that environmental air pollution, both in cities and in rural areas, was the cause of 4.2 million premature deaths worldwide per year. This mortality is due to exposure to small particles 2.5 microns or less in diameter (PM2.5), which cause cardiovascular and respiratory diseases and cancer.

Ground-level ozone is one of the main components of smog. This is formed by the reaction with sunlight (photochemical) of pollutants such as nitrogen oxides (NOx) from emissions from vehicles or industry and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) emitted by vehicles, solvents and industry. The highest ozone levels are recorded during periods of hot, sunny weather. Excess ozone in the air can have serious adverse effects on human health. It can cause breathing problems, cause asthma, reduce lung function, and lead to lung disease.

Sulfur dioxide is a colorless gas with a pungent odor that is generated by the combustion of fossils (coal and oil) and the smelting of sulfur-containing ores. The main anthropogenic source of sulfur dioxide is the burning of sulfur-containing fossils used for domestic heating, electricity generation and motor vehicles. It can affect the respiratory system and lung functions and causes eye irritation. Inflammation of the respiratory system causes coughing, mucous discharge, and exacerbation of asthma and chronic bronchitis. It also increases the propensity of people to contract infections of the respiratory system. Hospital admissions for heart disease and mortality increase on days when the levels are highest. In combination with water, sulfur dioxide turns into sulfuric acid, which is the main component of acid rain that causes deforestation and degradation of public monuments and similar structures.