Our latest addition to the air quality monitoring network!

What's up, Forsyth??


Forsyth County's air quality monitoring network has a new and unique addition! 

    On August 30, 2023, a RadNet air monitor was established at our Hattie Avenue air quality monitoring site (Figure 1). There are approximately 140 RadNet air monitors in operation across the United States, operating continuously to send near real-time measurements of gamma radiation to EPA’s National Analytical Radiation Environmental Laboratory (NAREL). RadNet monitors pull ambient air through the system and collect airborne particulates on filters placed inside the hood. The air filters are collected weekly and are then sent off to EPA’s NAREL for testing. NAREL staff test the results of the collected filter and calculate the concentrations of radionuclides to detect trends in airborne radiation.

    In radiological emergencies, the EPA may deploy teams to conduct air monitoring and environmental sampling. However, RadNet air filter inquiries are typically not responses to known radiological emergencies and are initiated when there is a potential for release of radioactive materials in the air that could result in the presence of airborne radionuclides at low concentrations in the US or elsewhere.

    Forsyth County's partnership with NAREL allows us to dedicate minimal time with routine operation of the RadNet air monitor, as NAREL is fully responsible for the maintenance and troubleshooting of the equipment in case of operation issues.

    To learn more about RadNet, please visit: https://www.epa.gov/radnet




Fig. 1. RadNet air monitor, located at Hattie Avenue in Winston-Salem, NC


    To view near-real time air data from our RadNet monitor, visit: https://www.epa.gov/radnet/radnet-near-real-time-air-data-greensboro-nc. 

An example of the data collected by the RadNet air monitor is provided below (Figure 2):


Fig. 2. Gamma gross count rate graph, at Hattie Avenue in Winston-Salem, NC





Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

What Could Smoke from Canadian Wildfires Mean for Triad Air Quality?

Image
What's up, Forsyth?? In this blog post, we will discuss how wildfires in Canada could affect air quality in North Carolina's Piedmont Triad region this summer.  During the summer of 2023, Canada experienced the most destructive wildfire season on record, with over 45 million acres burned . Although western US states were already familiar with air quality impacts of wildfires, the smoke that spread from Canadian wildfires last summer resulted in some of the worst air quality that many eastern states had seen in decades. Here in the Triad, we experienced five code orange and two code red air quality action days, even though the fires were hundreds to thousands of miles from us. " Smoke From Canadian Wildfires Blankets U.S. " by  NOAASatellites  is marked with  Public Domain Mark 1.0 . This satellite image was taken on June 6, 2023. A New Normal? Unfortunately, poor air quality caused by wildfire smoke may become more common for the East Coast, as Canada braces ...
Read more

Breathe Better, Save Money: Reducing Engine Idling in Forsyth County

Image
What's up, Forsyth?! As we enter the hottest month of the year here in North Carolina, one of the most important things we can do to reduce ozone pollution is to turn off our engines. That's because ground-level ozone needs heat and sunlight to form . Recently, Forsyth County Property Management has worked with the Office of Environmental Assistance and Protection (EAP) to install several “Breathe Better, Save Money” idling reduction signs as a part of a Triad Air Awareness initiative. While these signs serve as reminders at a few county-owned lots and decks, it’s important that we eliminate unnecessary engine idling wherever we are. Idling not only contributes to air pollution in Forsyth County; it also wastes money. The simple act of turning off an engine can help protect everyone’s health, and it saves on fuel and engine maintenance costs. We have summarized the major benefits of idling reduction below: Idling pollutes our air and threatens our health. Cars produce mo...
Read more

February is American Heart Month!

Image
  What’s Up, Forsyth?? This February isn’t just about Valentine’s Day, it’s also American Heart Month . Did you know that small pollution particles in our air could lead to big problems for our hearts? Triad Air Awareness participated in the Go Red Day Heart Healthy Carnival in Greensboro on February 2 nd .  Air Awareness Coordinator Sarah Coffey shared information on the link between air pollution and cardiovascular disease with residents of Abbotswood at Irving Park. When we discuss the health effects of air pollution, we often focus on breathing problems or lung disease, but certain types of air pollution, particularly fine particulate matter (PM2.5) , can worsen existing cardiovascular (heart or blood vessel) disease or even contribute to the development of disease.   According to the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) , “exposure to increased concentrations of PM2.5 over a few hours to weeks can trigger cardiovascular disease-related heart attacks and ...
Read more