Air Pollution

What is air pollution?

Air pollution is a mix of hazardous substances from both man-made and natural sources. Vehicle emissions, fuel oils and natural gas to heat homes, by-products of manufacturing and power generation, particularly coal-fueled power plants, and fumes from chemical production are the primary sources of human-made air pollution.

Frequently Asked Questions


Below, you can see the effect of an inversion: the left side shows a day with very low levels of PM, while the right side shows a day three weeks later during an inversion with higher levels of PM2.5.

Wildfire Smoke

Frequently Asked Questions

Indoor Air Quality

Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) refers to the air quality within and around buildings and structures, especially as it relates to the health and comfort of building occupants. The average person spends up to 90 percent of their time inside. Poor indoor air quality can cause similar health effects as exposure to outdoor pollution such as: decreased lung size and function, acute respiratory illnesses (such as asthma and bronchitis), emphysema, and even some types of cancer.

Frequently Asked Questions