Ambient Air Monitoring Data
The Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality (NDEQ) determines compliance with federal and state air quality standards by designing, operating and maintaining an air quality monitoring network across the state. The Lincoln-Lancaster County Health Department, the Environmental Services section of the Omaha Public Works Department, and the Douglas County Health Department assist the NDEQ in this task.
Standards have been established by the EPA for seven criteria pollutants: PM10 (fine particles less than 10 microns in size), PM2.5 (fine particles less than 2.5 microns in size), ozone (O3), carbon monoxide (CO), sulfur dioxide (SO2), lead (Pb), and nitrogen oxides (NOx). Primary standards are established to protect public health, whereas secondary standards are established to protect public welfare. The EPA continually evaluates these standards and changes to the standards are made as needed.
WHY IS AMBIENT AIR QUALITY DATA COLLECTED IN NEBRASKA?
The state of Nebraska is required to conduct ambient air monitoring by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA). The Clean Air Act (CAA) gives the USEPA the authority to delegate certain responsibilities to the states, and one of these responsibilities is ambient air monitoring.
Monitoring data is evaluated to determine the overall health risk associated with inhaling the ambient air. This risk is determined based on the levels of several pollutants measured in the air. These pollutants include carbon monoxide, lead, nitrogen oxides, ozone, particulate matter, sulfur dioxide, and total reduced sulfur. The health effects associated with inhaling each of these pollutants has been studied, and ambient air quality standards have been set. If the level of any one pollutant exceeds its standard, human health may be compromised.
Ambient Air Quality Standards for PM10 and TRS were set to State and Federal guidelines. For an explanation of these standards see the Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality's Rules and Regulations, Title 129 - Nebraska Air Quality Standards, Chapter 4. All NDEQ Rules and Regulations can be found by selecting the "Rules and Regulations" link on the NDEQ Home Page.
The charts containing PM10 and TRS data will be updated on the 1st and 15th of each month with all data available at that time. If after reviewing this material you have questions, please contact the Air Quality Division at (402)-471-2189.
POLLUTANTS MONITORED
Total Reduced Sulfur (TRS)
All Files below are provided in PDF format. You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader to view these files |
January - December 2000 TRS Data
(53 KB) | | January - December 2001 TRS Data
(73 KB) | |
January - September 2002 TRS Data
(55 KB) | |  | |
The data links above are only available to MS Internet Explorer Browser 5.0 or newer
Total Reduced Sulfur is a group of gasses including hydrogen sulfide, methyl mercaptan, dimethyl sulfide, and dimethyl disulfide. Hydrogen sulfide is the primary component of TRS.
HEALTH EFFECTS - TRS can cause headaches, depression, fatigue, and nausea at low levels of exposure. At higher levels of exposure, health effects may include eye and respiratory irritation, olfactory nerve fatigue, and pulmonary edema. At extremely high levels, TRS can cause respiratory failure and death.
WELFARE EFFECTS - At high levels, TRS can have detrimental effects on plant life.
WHO EMITS TRS?
TRS results from microbial degradation and bacterial decomposition. Typical sources include packing plants, leather tanneries, sewage treatment plants, livestock waste control facilities, composting operations, animal rendering plants, sugar beet processing plants, and oil and natural gas extraction sites.
TRS is sampled with the fluorescent method, method code 100. Collection is instrumental. The standards for TRS are 10.0 ppm as a maximum one-minute average concentration, and .10 ppm as a maximum 30 minute rolling average.
The TRS monitoring network is comprised of six monitoring stations located in Broken Bow, Dakota City, and Lexington.
Particulate matter measuring 10 microns in diameter or less (PM10)
PM10 information from 7-4-2000 to 12-27-2001 is provided in the attached Adobe Acrobat file
(6 KB) | 
Data is from 7-4-2000 - 12-27-2001 |
PM10 information from 1-2-2002 to 12-28-2002 is provided in the attached Adobe Acrobat file
(11 KB) | 
Data is from 1-2-2002 - 12-28-2002 |
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PM10 is solid matter or liquid droplets that are carried in the ambient air.
HEALTH EFFECTS - PM10 can carry heavy metals and cancer causing organic compounds into the deepest, most susceptible parts of the lungs. When inhaled in combination with other pollutants PM10 can increase incidence and severity of respiratory diseases.
WELFARE EFFECTS - PM10 can impair vision, dirty materials and buildings, and corrode metals.
WHO EMITS PM10?
PM10 is produced primarily through combustion, during grain handling operations, and during other industrial processes. It can also be produced by natural, largely uncontrollable sources, such as wind blown dust and fires.
PM10 sampling is performed with the gravimetric method. Collection is achieved with Anderson model 1200 hi-vol machines. The standards for PM10 are 50 ug/m3 annual arithmetic mean, and 150 ug/m3 as a 24 hour average with not more than one exceedance per year.
The PM10 monitoring network is made up of sites located in Broken Bow, Cozad, Gothenburg, Omaha, and Weeping Water.
Due to elevated sampler readings, NDEQ has decided to start sampling daily in Weeping Water. At least one sampler will be running each day, with two samplers running at least every six days. A separate chart has been created for the Weeping Water sampling results in order to create an easier presentation of the results.
Weeping Water information from 2-16-2001 to 12-31-2001 is provided in the attached Adobe Acrobat file (20 KB) | 
Data is from 2-16-2001 - 12-31-2001 |
Weeping Water information from 1-1-2002 to 12-31-2002 is provided in the attached Adobe Acrobat file (22 KB) | 
Data is from 1-1-2002 - 12-31-2002 |
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The data links above are only available to MS Internet Explorer Browser 5.0 or newer
.The data contained on these pages is not quality assured. It is for informational purposes only.
Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality
1200 "N" Street, Suite 400
P.O. Box 98922
Lincoln, Nebraska 68509
(402) 471-2186