Monroe air quality map

How many facts and figures are there on the air pollution map for Monroe?

There are a lot of very interesting facts and figures on the air pollution map for Monroe. The map icon on the leading page acts as a link to a new set of pages which is filled with all the latest data.

When the new page first opens, the first thing to notice will be the background colour of the map. This colour is a visual guide to the current air quality. The meaning of all the colours can be seen in the legend at the foot of the page. Colours can range from pale green to dark maroon and are standard across the entire IQAir website. The current green colour shows the air quality to be “Good”. Many coloured discs can also be seen scattered across the map. These show the locations of all the ground-level air monitoring stations there are in and around the city, although all the stations are not under the jurisdiction of the city. Many discs are also overlapping each other and are hard to see clearly. In this case, the map can be slightly expanded and eventually, the discs will start to separate.

At the centre of each disc is a number which is the United States Air Quality Index reading or US AQI for short. It is calculated by measuring the levels of up to six of the most commonly found pollutants in the city air. They are usually both sizes of Particulate Matter (PM2.5 and PM10), ozone, nitrogen dioxide, sulphur dioxide and carbon monoxide.

Once the figure is verified, it is used as a standard when comparing different levels of air pollution in towns and cities across the globe. It has the complete backing of the World Health Organisation (WHO).

Looking back to the main city page, it can be seen in the coloured banner at the top of it that the current air quality is “Good” with a US AQI reading of 4. The green coloured background also indicates this level of quality. PM2.5 is considered to be the main pollutant and had a recorded level of 1 µg/m³ (microns per cubic metre) which is within the suggested target figure of 5 µg/m³ as recommended by the WHO.

Immediately below the air pollution map for Monroe can be seen the number of contributors there are that collect and collate the data on behalf of the city. In early June 2023, there were seven contributors who operated seven stations but they all prefer to remain anonymous.

Is there much more information about air quality on the air pollution map for Monroe?

There is a wealth of fascinating facts and figures just waiting to be discovered on the air pollution map for Monroe. At the top of the opening page is an icon which, when selected, will re-open the new set of pages on “Full-screen” mode so all information will be clearly visible.

Four options should now be visible on the left-hand side of the screen which can all be toggled on and off to see the full effects they have on the map.

The first option shows the positions of all the ground-level air quality monitoring stations there are, both in and around the city. Each station can be individually chosen from the appropriate disc and explored further because they all contain a lot of interesting information about their own specific regions. These figures are constantly updated and will be extremely interesting when travelling around the area.

Option number two shows the positions of any wildfires there are that are burning out of control in the region. At the start of June 2023, there were no reports of any fires in the immediate area. If fires are detected, then option four needs to be consulted because it shows the speed and direction of the prevailing winds and will give a good indication of where the smoke may drift to.

The third option uses colour to show the current state of the air. It does this by colouring the background of the map with the appropriate colour. If this is too distracting it can be deactivated so the colour will disappear and the map will revert to a more acceptable colour scheme.

The remainder of the information is found on the right-hand side of the screen. A table will be seen here which lists the top seven most heavily polluted cities in the world in descending order. There is also another section where the rest of the participating world cities are listed according to their levels of air pollution. In order to see all these, a new set of pages needs to be opened.

Looking just below the map nearby the contributors’ section is more information which shows where the most polluted regions of the city are according to the US AQI readings gathered by the monitoring stations. Currently, the station showing the highest level of pollution is at 135th Street Southeast which showed a reading of 40. The stations are also listed according to their popularity and the number of loyal followers they each have. Currently, the most popular station is at 154th Street Southeast with over 3,500 followers.

Can the source of the air pollution be seen on the air quality map for Monroe?

Whilst the source of the polluted air is not shown directly on the air quality map for Monroe, it is well-proven that motor vehicles are the main cause of air pollution. This is followed by wood smoke and the burning of garbage outdoors. Gas and diesel-powered equipment, industries and at certain times of the year from wildfires.

What are PM2.5 and PM10 which are often quoted on the air quality map for Monroe?

Particles in suspension (PM10) come mainly from pollutant emissions generated by industry, traffic and home heating. They can cause asthma, cardiovascular disease, lung cancer and premature death. About 60 per cent of PM10 consists of PM2.5 type variants, with a diameter below 2.5 microns. In this form, they can enter the pulmonary alveoli and enter the bloodstream where they can travel throughout the body.

The body's defence cells mistake them for bacteria and try to kill them. Since they are not bacteria, the immune system cannot "kill" them, and the result is a permanent inflammation of the lung tissue. Generally, these powders also contain active substances, which generate a lung disease process similar to that caused by smoking cigarettes or ageing. Long-term exposure to fine particle pollution increases mortality and the risk of cardiovascular disease.