Report Shows Air Quality Improving in Tennessee Valley
July 21, 2003
A scientific report released by TVA shows that air quality in the east-central United States is good and getting better.
The report, “How Clean Is the Air?”, contains scientific data from the Environmental Protection Agency about air quality trends in the east-central United States from 1979 through 2002.
“This is the fourth ‘How Clean Is the Air?’ report that TVA has produced, and it shows that our efforts, as well as the efforts of other businesses and industries, in reducing emissions are having a positive impact on the environment,” said TVA environmental executive Kate Jackson. “TVA has set its course to help this trend continue as evidenced by the $1 million a day we are spending through the end of this decade to continue to reduce emissions from our coal plants.”
The EPA has set national air quality standards for six principal pollutants. These are health-based standards, and states must meet or attain these standards under the Clean Air Act. TVA’s report examines how the east-central United States is measuring up to the standards.
Scientific data in the report shows that total suspended particles in the air, sulfur dioxide, and carbon monoxide have improved dramatically, with levels being 40 to 60 percent better than in previous years. There have been some reductions in ozone levels, with nitrogen oxides improving by 20 to 30 percent. Because ozone formation is dependent on the weather, the report says there will always be some years that are better than others, but the trend in the Valley shows improvement.
Two areas, Atlanta, Ga. and Birmingham, Ala., are the only places in the study area that do not currently meet the National Ambient Air Quality Standards for ozone.
Fine particles that are 10 microns in diameter or less (100 microns is the width of a human hair) have been reduced. However particles less than 2.5 microns are expected to be a concern in coming years.
Visibility impairment, often a concern in national parks, has neither improved nor declined, but is expected to get better as nitrogen oxide and sulfur dioxide emissions are reduced.
Of major concern is indoor air pollution, with levels of pollutants being much higher than what is found outdoors. Indoor air quality is impacted by natural gas use, cleaning solvents, paints, and other products and can have a much greater health risk than outdoor air pollution, the report concludes.
The report also covers lead and such issues as acid deposition, toxic air pollutants, and global climate change. The report is available on the Environmental Reports page of this Web site.
TVA is the nation’s largest public power producer and is completely self-financed. TVA provides power to large industries and 158 power distributors that serve 8.3 million consumers in seven southeastern states.
Media Contact:
Barbara Martocci, Knoxville (865-632-8632) or TVA News Bureau, Knoxville (865-632-6000)
