Daily Air Quality Report

Today's Forecast

Air Quality Index (AQI)
50

Air Quality
Good

Highest Pollutant
Ozone

Past 24 Hours*

AQI
51

Air Quality
Moderate

Highest
Pollutant
Ozone

Secondary
Pollutant
Fine Particles

Pollen
Grass: 3 (Low)
Tree: 0 (Absent)
Weed: 12 (Moderate) Ragweed

Mold
566 (Low) Cladosporium, Alternaria, Drechslera, Curvularia

Details for the Last 24 Hours*

Fine Particles (PM2.5): 12.1 µg/m3

Ozone (8-hour standard): 50

Pollen Count: - Grass: 3 (Low)
Tree: 0 (Absent)
Weed: 12 (Moderate) Ragweed

Mold Spore Count: - 566 (Low) Cladosporium, Alternaria, Drechslera, Curvularia

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*Pollen and mold spore counts are for the previous 24 hours. Pollen is collected at 8:15 a.m., Monday through Friday, and the report is updated by 9:00 a.m. The Bureau is not a participant in the American Academy of Allergy Asthma & Immunology’s National Allergy Bureau™ (NAB™). The pollen count is for the date listed on the home page of the website.

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s scale for rating air quality:

Good 0-50	PM2.5 24hr Avg.0-12.0	8-Hour Ozone Concentration 0-0.054
Cautionary Statements None
Moderate 51-100	PM2.5 24hr Avg. 12.1-35.4	8-Hour Ozone Concentration 0.055-0.070
Cautionary Statements Unsusually sensitive people should consider reducing prolonged or heavy outdoor exertion.
Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups101-150	PM2.5 24hr Avg. 35.5-55.4	8-Hour Ozone Concentration 0.071-0.085
Cautionary Statements People with heart or lung disease, older adults, and children should reduce prolonged or heavy outdoor exertion.
Unhealthy 151-200	PM2.5 24hr Avg. 55.5-150.4	8-Hour Ozone Concentration 0.086-0.105
Cautionary Statements People with heart or lung disease, older adults, and children should avoid prolonged or heavy outdoor exertion. Everyone else should reduce prolonged or heavy outdoor exertion.
Very Unhealthy 201-300	PM2.5 24hr Avg. 150.5-250.4	8-Hour Ozone Concentration 0.106-0.200
Cautionary Statements People with heart or lung disease, older adults, and children should avoid all outdoor exertion. Everyone else should reduce prolonged or heavy outdoor exertion.
Hazardous 301-500	PM2.5 24hr Avg. >250.5	8-Hour Ozone Concentration >0.200
Cautionary Statements People with heart or lung disease, older adults, and children should remain indoors and keep activity levels low. Everyone else should avoid all physical activity outdoors.

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s scale for rating air quality:

Good 0-50	PM2.5 24hr Avg.0-12.0	8-Hour Ozone Conentration 0-0.054	Cautionary Statements None.
Moderate 51-100	PM2.5 24hr Avg. 12.1-35.4	8-Hour Ozone Concentration 0.055-0.070	Cautionary Statements Unsusually sensitive people should consider reducing prolonged or heavy outdoor exertion.
Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups101-150	PM2.5 24hr Avg. 35.5-55.4	8-Hour Ozone Concentration 0.071-0.085	Cautionary Statements People with heart or lung disease, older adults, and children should reduce prolonged or heavy outdoor exertion.
Unhealthy 151-200	PM2.5 24hr Avg. 55.5-150.4	8-Hour Ozone Concentration 0.086-0.105	Cautionary Statements People with heart or lung disease, older adults, and children should avoid prolonged or heavy outdoor exertion. Everyone else should reduce prolonged or heavy outdoor exertion.
Very Unhealthy 201-300	PM2.5 24hr Avg. 150.5-250.4	8-Hour Ozone Concentration 0.106-0.200	Cautionary Statements People with heart or lung disease, older adults, and children should avoid all outdoor exertion. Everyone else should reduce prolonged or heavy outdoor exertion.
Hazardous 301-500	PM2.5 24hr Avg. >250.5	8-Hour Ozone Concentration >0.200	Cautionary Statements People with heart or lung disease, older adults, and children should remain indoors and keep activity levels low. Everyone else should avoid all physical activity outdoors.

The Bureau provides information about its monitoring activities in the daily Air Quality Report, which can also be accessed by phone at 423.643.5971.

This information includes:

Air Quality Index – The Air Quality Index (AQI) was designed by the EPA to provided a standardized, national method of measuring air quality. It classifies air quality concentrations as good, moderate, unhealthy for sensitive groups, unhealthy, very unhealthy and hazardous, based on a scale of 0-500. More information is available in EPA’s Air Quality Index brochure.

In Hamilton County, Tennessee the daily air quality level is determined by either the ozone or particulate concentration, depending on which is higher on that day. Since the early 1980’s, most days have been in the good range.

Forecast – The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation’s Air Pollution Control Department (TDEC) gathers information from monitors all over the state. This information is then used to predict air quality for the next 48 hours. The Daily Air Quality Report includes both an actual reading from the day before and a forecast for the next day, based on TDEC’s prediction.
Burning Status – Burning is allowed in Hamilton County between October 1 and April 30 with the appropriate permits. The burning status is determined by the predicted daily air quality and Forestry’s burning safety determination. You can also find out the day’s burning status by calling the Information Line at 423.643.5971.
Pollen and Mold Spore Counts – The Air Monitoring Department uses a pollen monitor to collect the pollen grains and mold spores in the air. The monitor runs for a 24 hour period, from 8:00 a.m. – 7:59 a.m. the following day. The particles are then put under a microscope to identify the types of pollen/mold, and count the number of each. These findings are reported on the daily Air Quality Report, and levels are indicated with a scale that indicates the severity of the pollutant. Pollen and mold spore counts are for the previous 24-hour period. We monitor pollen and mold spore levels from 8:00 a.m. on Sunday through 8 a.m. on Friday.