The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), has established the Air Quality Index (AQI). The AQI is a daily index that tells people how clean or polluted the air is and what the associated health effects may be. AQI levels below 50 are considered healthy for all segments of the population. Ozone and fine particulate matter (PM 2.5) are the two pollutants for which we sometimes exceed an AQI of 50. Ozone can trigger asthma attacks and can lead to permanent lung damage. PM 2.5 aggravates heart and lung diseases and causes premature death.

Over the last 8 years Connecticut has averaged 177 days per year where the AQI exceeded 50. This figure represents an 8 year rolling average. Future data will be provided using the same method.

Recent U.S. EPA air quality monitoring since 2005 documents a downward trend for PM2.5 in Connecticut. The increased number of annual days per year with an AQI greater that 50 (moderate or above) for PM2.5 from 2012 onward is due to an increase in available PM2.5 monitoring data.  Previously PM2.5 data was collected only once every three days, however, Connecticut now employs continuous PM2.5 analyzers which substantially increase the amount of data collected for this pollutant.  Ozone concentrations, which are influenced by a combination of in-state air pollution, polluted air transported into Connecticut from upwind states, and meteorological (weather) conditions, have remained fairly constant over this period, with minor changes from year to year due mostly to differences in weather patterns.  

Connecticut Department of Public Health; Connecticut Department of Administrative Services (Division of Construction Services); State Department of Education; Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection; Connecticut Department of Transportation; Connecticut Department of Motor Vehicles; Connecticut Division of Criminal Justice; Office of the Attorney General; U.S. Environmental Protection Agency; local courts; local public health agencies; housing and urban development agencies; professional associations for public health, health care, business, and housing; schools and municipalities; organizations and coalitions focused on health and the environment; health care providers; community service organizations serving children and underserved populations; childcare providers and after school programs; and media.

The U.S. EPA, Connecticut (CT) Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP), and other state air enforcement agencies regulate sources of air pollutants to reduce ozone and PM 2.5 levels. These agencies develop and enforce air emission control requirements on power plants, cars, trucks and factories that have resulted in reduced ozone and PM 2.5 levels across the country and in Connecticut. EPA also periodically reviews and strengthens the National Ambient Air Quality standards (NAAQS) based on the latest science. When EPA changes the NAAQS, they also change the AQI so that it reflects the most protective standard.

Seek to limit the amount of air pollution transported into the state of Connecticut from upwind sources, through legal actions under the Clean Air Act and voluntary actions with other states.

Work with employers to promote telecommuting, electronic meetings, and other alternatives, to reduce the number of cars on the road on forecasted poor air quality days.

Advocate for municipalities to increase their use of electric vehicles for their fleets.

Develop and propose policy (or regulation) on banning outdoor wood burning (i.e., fireplaces, fire pits) and indoor wood burning stoves on forecasted poor air quality days.Exceptions would be for sole sources of heat in heating season.

Implement regulations that would require outdated wood stoves that do not comply with US EPA standards to be replaced when houses change ownership.

Provide incentives for and reward behaviors of people, organizations, companies that improve the air quality.

Publicize the benefits of public transportation in general and as an alternative transportation, to reduce the number of cars on the road on forecasted poor air quality days.

Increase awareness of the 3-minute vehicle idling law, through driver training curriculum, driver’s license testing, and when renewing licenses and registrations.

Enhance existing partnerships with State agencies, universities and private businesses to assess the feasibility of initiating statewide use of “green” technologies (e.g., “green” buildings, renewable energy, energy efficiency, and “green” chemistry) that can help reduce use of energy, water, and other resources and decrease pollution.