Forest Park, Near Road, Air Monitoring Site

The Forest Park air monitoring station, adjacent to Interstate 64, was selected as the first near-road air monitoring site in St. Louis based on analysis of traffic count data and evaluation of sites that could meet air monitoring siting criteria. The Forest Park site began operation in January 2013. Near-road monitoring in the St. Louis area is required by the 2010 rule revising the NO₂ standard and the 2011 rule continuing the CO standard, because motor vehicles are significant sources of NO₂ and CO emissions. Airborne particulate matter (PM₁₀ and PM_2.5) and black carbon are also measured and reported hourly at the Forest Park Site.

Pollutants

Fine Particulate Matter (PM 2.5)

Departmental information about particulate matter (PM)

Description of two groups of particulate matter: PM_2.5 and PM₁₀
1997, 2006 and 2012 standards for PM_2.5 plus related documents
2006 PM₁₀ standard and pertinent documents

Air Quality Analysis Particulate Matter 2.5 - Weekly Monitor Data

Annual PM_2.5 design values
24-Hour PM_2.5 design values
Map of PM_2.5 sites

Preliminary one-hour PM2.5 data from all sites, micrograms per cubic meter, CST

Air Pollutant Design Values - Quarterly Report - Particulate Matter

Additional information about particulate matter and state planning efforts

Table of Symbols - Flags Air Monitoring Data

Technical issues can affect ability to deliver quality data. Access a table of symbols with explanation of the problems they represent.

Fine particulate matter preliminary one-hour averages from Forest Park

PM_2.5 data on second page, seventh column
Data from past 10 days through current date

Carbon Monoxide

Carbon monoxide has no color, taste or odor. It comes from the incomplete combustion of fuels with carbon, such as oil, coal, wood, gasoline and natural gas. Vehicle emissions account for the largest source. Breathing air with high concentrations of CO can result in multiple health effects.

Since 1971, EPA has maintained two standards for carbon monoxide. The eight-hour standard stands at nine parts per million, and the one-hour standard stands at 35 parts per million. If design values are at or below the standard, then an area is in compliance. Design values correspond to an annual average of eight-hour concentrations and one-hour concentrations.

Departmental information about carbon monoxide (CO)

1971 standard and related document

Preliminary one-hour CO data from sites, parts per million, CST

Preliminary eight-hour CO data from sites, parts per million, CST

Air Quality Analysis Carbon Monoxide - Quarterly Report

Air Pollutant Design Values - Quarterly Report - Carbon Monoxide

Additional information about carbon monoxide and state planning efforts

Table of Symbols - Flags Air Monitoring Data

Technical issues can affect ability to deliver quality data. Access a table of symbols with explanation of the problems they represent.

Carbon monoxide preliminary one-hour averages from Forest Park

CO data on first page, fifth column
Data from past 10 days through current date

Nitrogen Dioxide

Nitrogen dioxide is a foul-smelling gas. It comes primarily from the burning of fossil fuels — coal, oil and gas. NO₂combines with volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in the presence of sunlight and heat to create ozone. (VOCs are compounds with carbon that easily become vapors or gases.)

In 2010, EPA revised the one-hour NO₂ standard to 100 parts per billion. An area is in compliance if the design value is at or below the standard. The one-hour standard is based on a three-year design value, which is calculated by taking the 98th percentile of the daily high one-hour average concentrations recorded each year, for three years, and averaging the three years together. The annual standard of 0.053 parts per million is based on the annual arithmetic mean and is not to be exceeded.

Departmental information about nitrogen dioxide (NO₂)