An Overview of Maryland’s Air Quality

Marcia Ways

Manager, Mobile Sources Control Program

Air & Radiation Management Administration

Maryland’s Air Quality

• Ozone levels in Maryland are very high

• Fine particulate levels are high

• Air pollution contributes significantly to Bay pollution

Ozone Formation

8-Hour Ozone NAAs

Baltimore Region

Washington County EAC

Cecil County (Philadelphia NAA)

Kent and Queen Anne’s County Region

Washington DC Region

Health Effects of Ozone• Ozone interferes with

normal lung functioning, aggravates respiratory diseases, and causes eye irritation.

• Most common symptom is pain from taking a deep breath.

• Long term exposure to ozone may lead to premature aging of the lungs.

Ozone causes damage to vegetation, degrades water quality and reduces visibility.

Ozone damages plant life and is responsible for 500 million dollars in reduced crop production in the United States each year.

Other Effects of Ozone

Fine Particulate Matter• Particles are very small

objects found in the air, including dust, dirt, soot, smoke, and liquid droplets. 

• Our respiratory system filters out larger particles.

• Smaller particles get trapped in the lungs, while the smallest are so tiny they pass through the lungs into the blood stream.

PM2.5 Nonattainment Areas

Baltimore Region

Washington Region

Washington County Nonattainment Area

Health Effects of ParticlesParticles may trigger or

cause significant health problems:

• coughing and difficult or painful breathing

• aggravated asthma, bronchitis, emphysema

• decreased lung function

• weakening of the heart, heart attacks

• premature death

• Visibility Impairment

– PM is the major cause of reduced visibility (haze) in parts of the United States, including many of our national parks. 

• Aesthetic Damage

– Soot, a type of PM, stains and damages stone and other materials, including objects such as monuments and statues.

• Plant Damage

– PM can form a film on plant leaves interfering with photosynthesis and plant growth

Other Effects of Particles

Good News Maryland has implemented one of the

country’s most aggressive set of air pollution control regulations

– Power plants to hair spray and perfume

– Over 50 different regulations since 1990

Emissions in Maryland have been cut by about 40% since 1990

– National average is about 20%

– The result of aggressive local controls over the past 20 years

Recent settlement will result in about a 70% reduction in NOx emissions from Mirant’s Maryland power plants (year round NOx controls)

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What have we done lately?

MD’s Latest Additions

OTC AIMOTC Consumer ProductsOTC Gas CansSolvent Cleaning RegulationMobile Equipment Refinishing Regulation

Regional Controls still require local implementation and enforcement