What's up, Forsyth?

  What's up, Forsyth??   Brrr...it's finally starting to feel like winter! It's the time of year for drinking hot cocoa, cozying up on the couch with a good book, and warming up the car in the morning before driving off to work...well, hopefully not the last one!  " Hot chocolate on a cold day! " by  blmcalifornia  is marked with  Public Domain Mark 1.0 . While ground-level ozone isn't typically much of a concern during colder months in North Carolina, we still face other air quality challenges. In fact, fine particulate matter (PM2.5) is usually higher, partly because c old weather can trap pollution at the surface through   temperature inversions . Shorter daylight hours in the winter also allows for longer durations of nocturnal temperatures inversions on clear nights with light winds. If there is snow on the ground, this phenomenon may be amplified!  Additionally, air is typically drier in the winter because cold air holds less moisture. With...

What's up, Forsyth??   Before we recap our 2023 ozone season, first we will provide some context on the air quality monitoring and forecasting activities of our office. To start, did you know that ground-level ozone (O₃) and fine particulate matter (PM2.5) are the two most concerning air pollutants for public health in Forsyth County and in the state of North Carolina? The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) determines   National Ambient Air Quality Standards  (NAAQS)  for acceptable or "satisfactory" concentrations of ozone, particulate matter, and the other criteria air pollutants . These research-informed thresholds are set for the protection of public health and welfare, and they are evaluated every few years based on the latest scientific findings. In Forsyth County, we are in attainment of the NAAQS for each of the  criteria air pollutants. However, it may become more challenging  to maintain this status for PM2.5 and ozone since NAAQS may ...

What's up, Forsyth??        Looking to learn more about our 2023 pollen season and pollen monitoring program in general? We have the blog for you!      The  Forsyth County Office of Environmental Assistance and Protection (FCOEAP) has been monitoring local pollen concentrations for over 25 years (since 1997), with each pollen monitoring season typically beginning in early to mid-February and concluding around late October. For 2023, the last day FCOEAP counted pollen this year was on October 31st, prior to an influx of colder air that brought a widespread freeze to the Triad which effectively ended the growing season.      Our daily pollen samples are collected with  a RotoRod Model 40 sampler (Figure 1), and then the samples are analyzed using a Leitz Wetzlar microscope (Figure 2). The area of the sample and the sampling time are fixed parameters, allowing us to calculate pollen concentrations based on the number of grains cou...

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...

  It’s that time of year again, and those who are not offered yard waste pick up may be left wondering what to do with all the leaf litter.   Leaf burning is seen as a solution for some, but it may be illegal depending on where you live . Even where the burning of leaves and other vegetation is generally allowed, there are specific conditions that must be met, including a code green or yellow air quality forecast for that day. To learn more, check out the Forsyth County Office of Environmental Assistance & Protection webpage on residential burning . In addition to the legal considerations, burning leaves and other vegetation is a potential fire hazard. It also creates air pollution by producing toxic gases (like carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, and hydrocarbons) and particulate matter, which are tiny, inhalable solid particles and liquid droplets, some of which are even small enough in diameter (<2.5 microns) to enter the bloodstream. Inhalation of these particl...

What's Up, Forsyth?!?!?! We're the Analysis & Monitoring (A&M) Division of the Forsyth County Office of Environmental Assistance & Protection , and this is the first post of our new blog series, "What's Up, Forsyth?". In our blog, we will discuss current air quality issues and other special topics related to the air we breathe. You may be asking why we chose "What's Up, Forsyth?" as a blog name. Three reasons: 1. "Up" is a play on words that relates to the the air above us. 2. "What's Up" is a common informal phrase used to initiate conversation, as this blog's intention is to inform and educate while not being too technical. 3. "Forsyth" is the county where our office is located. You may be familiar with the services and information regularly provided by A&M, but if not, here's a quick recap: 1. A&M is responsible for air monitoring services in Forsyth County, North Carolina. This include...