Air quality in Monroe

What is the current level of air pollution in Monroe?

Monroe is a city in Snohomish County, Washington, United States. It is located at the confluence of the Skykomish, Snohomish, and Snoqualmie rivers in the Cascade foothills, approximately 48 kilometers northeast of Seattle. According to a 2010 census, the estimated population was approximately 17,500 people which had increased to 20,000 by 2019.

Towards the middle of 2021, Monroe was going through a period of air quality that was classed as being “Unhealthy for sensitive groups” with a US AQI figure of 113. This United States Air Quality Index number is an internationally used set of metrics supported by the World Health Organization (WHO) and is used to compare the air quality in different cities throughout the world using comparable standards. It is calculated by using the levels of the six most commonly found pollutants. If records are not available for all six, then a figure is calculated using what information is available. For Monroe, the only figure made available was for PM2.5 which was 40.3 µg/m³. This level is more than 4 times higher than the level recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) which is 10 µg/m³ or less.

With a level such as this, the advice is to close doors and windows to prevent more dirty air from entering the room. Those of a sensitive disposition are advised to remain indoors or if travel outside is unavoidable, then a good quality mask is recommended. All forms of outdoor exercise should be avoided until the air quality improves and it would be advisable to use an air purifier if one is available. The table at the top of this page will help with that decision.

Is the quality of air the same all year round in Monroe?

Air quality can be affected by many things and so is constantly changing. The seasons of the year, the intensity of sunlight and the wind speed and direction can all affect air quality.

Looking back at the figures published by the Swiss air monitoring company IQAir.com for 2020 it can be seen that for nine months of the year, Monroe achieved the target figure as suggested by the World Health Organization (WHO) of 10 µg/m³ or less. The lowest reading which indicated the best air quality was enjoyed during January when the figure was recorded as being just 4 µg/m³. April saw a slight decline with a 10.2 µg/m³ reading which put it into the next category which is “Good” with readings between 10 and 12 µg/m³. September and October appear to be the worst months with a “Moderate” air quality with readings between 12.1 and 35.4 µg/m³.

Records were first kept in 2019 when the average annual figure was 9.1 µg/m³ which was below the WHO target of 10 µg/m³. A slight decline was noticed in 2020 when the measurement was recorded as being 10.4 µg/m³ which was surprising because of the restrictions imposed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Many vehicles were no longer used as the drivers were furloughed and not required to commute to and from work. There were also many factories and other non-essential production units which were temporarily closed in an attempt to prevent the spread of the virus.

What does the Washington Air Quality Advisory in Monroe do?

The WAQA is similar to the nationally recognized Air Quality Index but the difference is that WAQA is based on lower levels of fine particle pollution than the federal AQI. Smoke and dust are some examples of fine particles. Studies show that levels of particles in the air that we previously thought were safe can cause illness and death.

Carbon monoxide is one of the pollutants measured by the WAQA, it is an odorless, tasteless, colorless gas emitted by any form of combustion, such as motor vehicles, wood-burning stoves and heaters, outdoor burning and industrial processes.

Nitrogen dioxide is a harmful gas produced when fuel burns. Common sources in Washington are from vehicles, ships and trains and from industrial power plant emissions. In the 1980s, nitrogen dioxide levels in urban areas were occasionally high enough to exceed today's more stringent hourly standard. But thanks to cleaner cars and nitrogen oxide reducing controls, Washington's nitrogen dioxide levels have declined.

Ground-level ozone forms when nitrogen oxides and volatile organic compounds react with each other in sunlight and high temperatures. This pollution comes from vehicles, industry, and other sources and is the chief component of smog. Ecology and local clean air agencies monitor the air to ensure ground-level ozone meets Washington's air quality standards. Ozone levels used to be greater than the national standards in the Seattle and Vancouver areas. Due to improvements in vehicles and other emission-reducing requirements, ozone pollution has declined even as the population continues to grow.

Particle pollution, also called particulate matter (PM2.5 and PM10), is a mixture of tiny solids or liquid droplets that includes smoke, soot, dirt, and dust floating in the air. They can be produced by many sources but the main ones are wood-burning stoves, vehicle emissions, dust generated by construction and agricultural processes. The burning of crop residue and other organic waste such as in wildfires as well as through industrial operations are also major sources.

Sulfur dioxide (SO²) is a colorless gas with a strong smell. It gets into the air when fuel that contains sulfur is burned. Common sources of sulfur dioxide are from Industrial facilities such as fossil fuel power plants, aluminum smelters, oil refineries, and pulp mills and also from ships and locomotives. In fact, anything that uses fuel with sulfur content.

Because of improved pollution controls on industrial facilities and cleaner transportation fuels with lower sulfur content, Washington's sulfur dioxide levels have declined dramatically in recent decades.

Is factory farming one of the main sources of polluted air in Monroe?

Factory farming produces greenhouse gases throughout the 'supply chain'. For example, forest clearance to grow the crops and rear the animals reduces vital carbon 'sinks' and releases gases previously stored in the soil and vegetation. It also requires a relatively huge amount of energy in order to function correctly. Growing sufficient food for their needs is very intensive. Some sources quote up to 75 percent of the total energy required. The remaining 25 percent is used for heating, lighting and ventilation as well as other minor needs.

Carbon dioxide is not the only problem gas associated with factory farming because methane and nitrous oxide are also generated through the process. It is estimated that livestock farming produces 37 percent and 65 percent of our global methane and nitrous oxide emissions respectively. Both gases are actually more dangerous than carbon dioxide.

Factory-farmed beef requires twice as much fossil fuel energy input as pasture-reared beef. Livestock farming accounts for around 14.5 percent of our global greenhouse gas emissions.

The calculated destruction of natural habitats is also a significant driver of biodiversity loss. Because the farm animals need to eat so much, a lot of land to grow the feed is needed.

In fact, around one-third of the world's croplands are already given over to growing animal feed.

With hundreds or even thousands of farm animals crammed together, factory farms can create a range of pollution problems. This can affect both natural environments and the animals and plants that inhabit them.

More traditional farming methods can be relatively efficient, converting grass and other waste products into useful food. But the "fast-growth, high-yield" factory-farming model is far less efficient, using substantial amounts of grain and protein-rich soya. These crops often receive large quantities of pesticides and nitrogen-and-phosphorus-rich fertilizer to boost plant growth.

Farm animals produce large amounts of nitrogen and phosphorus-rich waste on a daily basis. This can be a good thing in that animal waste can be a useful form of manure, replenishing the soil with certain nutrients. However, with factory farming, huge amounts are produced in a relatively small area which is too small to cope with such vast amounts of organic waste. The problems caused are due to the fact that the nitrogen and phosphorus leak into the watercourse which soon becomes overwhelmed. Too much of these chemicals kills both plants and smaller animals thus creating dead zones where nothing can survive.

Some large farms produce more raw waste (manure) than the human population of a large US city and it is estimated that livestock farming accounts for over 60 percent of our global ammonia emissions. On average, it takes around 6kg of plant protein to produce just 1kg of animal protein.

What can be done to reduce air pollution in Monroe?

One of the services provided to residents of Snohomish Regional Fire & Rescue is a Residential Outdoor Burning Permit program. There are three main permits available depending on various factors. The size of the fire container, the size of the garden and the type of vegetation or other substance to be burned.

The residential permit costs $25 per annum and is valid for twelve months from purchase. The burning of any substance is banned during the months of July and August.

There is a well-established company in Monroe that specializes in filtration systems suitable for various industrial processes. It has been manufacturing solutions to various types of pollution and has become a trusted partner for many industries that were experiencing problems with their discharge.

What are the health effects of air pollution in Monroe?

Air pollution can be the black cloud pouring out of an industrial chimney. It's the smog that settles over some cities, dimming the skyline. It's the smelly exhaust smoke of an old car that burns oil. But it can also be odorless and clear which makes it difficult to detect. It can cause lung damage, cancer, or other serious health problems in people who may not realize the possible danger of the unseen gases or particles in the air. It can lead to premature death.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) tracks 6 major air pollutants that cause major health effects. These are the same as those which are studied throughout the world. They are the commonly used benchmark. They are ozone (O₃), nitrogen dioxide (NO₂), sulfur dioxide (SO₂), carbon monoxide (CO), lead (Pb), and particulate matter or PM2.5 and PM10.

These pollutants can appear anywhere, either outside or inside homes and offices. The length of exposure and the concentration level of the pollutant will dictate just how harmful they can be.

The effects of air pollution vary from person to person. A strong, healthy adult could be exposed for a short period of time and suffer no consequences, whereas someone with a pre-existing respiratory problem will notice straight away. For these people, even a small dose or a short exposure can exacerbate the symptoms making the situation worse. Longer exposure or a higher dose can lead to serious illness. In some cases, it can lead to premature death.

Children and older adults are more susceptible than other groups.

Globally, outdoor air pollution causes an estimated 25 percent of all adult deaths from heart disease, 24 percent from stroke, 43 percent from (COPD) chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and 29 percent from lung cancer. Household or indoor air pollution also leads to a wide variety of similar diseases and is one of the top five causes of premature death across the world. Current estimates put the death toll from household and ambient air pollution combined at 7 million deaths a year.

Harm from particulate matter occurs when very fine particles such as dust, aerosols from fuel emissions or soot reach the alveoli (air sacs) in the lungs and enter the bloodstream and cause inflammation affecting other organs in the body, particularly the heart, blood vessels and brain.

Alveoli are tiny air sacs in your lungs that take up the oxygen you breathe in and keep your body going. There are about 480 million alveoli located at the end of bronchial tubes. When you breathe in, the alveoli expand to take in oxygen, when you breathe out, the alveoli shrink to expel carbon dioxide. As it moves through blood vessels (capillaries) in the alveoli walls, your blood takes the oxygen from the alveoli and gives off carbon dioxide to the alveoli.