Particulate Matter (PM) Emission Summary 1985-2007

Particulate matter is the generic term for a broad class of chemically and physically diverse substances that exist as discrete particles (liquid droplets or solids) over a wide range of sizes. Particles originate from a variety of anthropogenic stationary and mobile sources as well as natural sources. Particles may be emitted directly or formed in the atmosphere by transformations of gaseous emissions such as sulfur oxides, nitrogen oxides, and volatile organic substances. The chemical and physical properties of PM vary greatly with time, region, meteorology, and source category, thus complicating the assessment of health and welfare affects.

The first national ambient air quality standards for PM were established in 1971. At that time the reference method specified for determining attainment of the original standards was the high-volume sampler, which collects PM up to a nominal size of 25 to 45 micrometers (so-called total suspended particulate or TSP).

USEPA promulgated changes to the PM standard in October 1979. In that decision, EPA changed the indicator for particles from TSP to PM₁₀, the latter referring to particles with a mean aerodynamic diameter less than or equal to 10 micrometers. USEPA replaced the annual and 24-hour TSP standard with an annual and 24-hour PM₁₀ standard. This October 1979 revision also included a new reference method for the measurement of PM₁₀ in the ambient air and rules for determining attainment of the new standards. Unlike USEPA which replaced all of the TSP air quality standards with PM₁₀, Wisconsin chose to retain the secondary 24-hour TSP standard as well as promulgating the 24-hour and annual new PM₁₀ standards.

Many epidemiologic studies have shown statistically significant associations of ambient PM levels with a variety of human health endpoints, including mortality, hospital admissions, respiratory symptoms and illness measured in community surveys, and changes in pulmonary mechanical function. Associations of both short-term (usually days) and long-term (usually years) PM exposure with most of these endpoints have been consistently observed. The general internal consistency of the epidemiologic data base enhances the confidence accorded the reported results and has contributed to increasing public health concern. However, there remains uncertainty regarding the shapes of PM exposure-response relationships; the magnitude and variability of risk estimates for PM; the ability to attribute observed health effects to specific PM constituents; the time intervals over which PM health effects (e.g., shortening of life) are manifested; the extent to which findings in one location can be generalized to other locations; and the nature and magnitude of the overall public health risk imposed by ambient PM exposure. While the epidemiology data provide support for the associations mentioned above, understanding of underlying biologic mechanisms has not yet emerged. For further information regarding PM go to the EPA website (exit DNR) .

A graph shows the number of stationary sources reporting particulate matter emissions from 1985-2007.

The graph above shows the reported actual amount of particulate matter emitted from stationary air pollution sources from 1985-2007 in the State of Wisconsin. A similar graph shows how the actual tonnage of reported from stationary sources from 1985-2006. The actual particulate matter emissions have decreased from approximately 39,000 tons in 1985 to 25,162 tons in 2007.

The particulate matter air emissions as reported from 1985-2007 were analyzed, sorted by Source Industrial Classification (SIC) code categories. These four digit codes supply a general description of the products manufactured or sold by the company. A pie chart of the major industrial source categories showing the particulate matter contribution for that year can be seen by choosing any of the following years:

With the exception of Menominee County, all Wisconsin counties reported particulate matter emissions from 1985-2007. This information is available in an Excel spreadsheet (XLS, 30KB). The information was sorted in alphabetical order by county. This information does not include emissions from portable sources (i.e. rock crushers, hot mix asphalt plants.)

Information by city from 1985-2007 can be downloaded an Excel Spreadsheet (XLS, 138 KB). This information was sorted first, alphabetically by county, and second, alphabetically by municipality in that county. This information does not include emissions from portable sources (i.e. rock crushers, hot mix asphalt plants.)

Information on each reporting the facility's actual 2007 particulate matter emissions are also available in Excel Spreadsheet (XLS, 281 KB). The information is sorted by facility identification number.

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