| Abstract |
This report presents a summary of air quality data collected throughout the State of Illinois during the calendar year - 2000. Data is presented for the six criteria pollutants (those for which air quality standards have been developed - particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5), ozone, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, carbon monoxide, and lead) along with some heavy metals, nitrates, sulfates, and volatile organic compounds. Monitoring was conducted at over 100 different site locations collecting data from more than 200 instruments. In terms of the Air Quality Index (AQI) air quality during 2000 was either good or moderate more than 93% of the time throughout Illinois. This is the first year since monitoring has been conducted in Illinois that there were no exceedances of the 1-hour ozone standard. There were 25 days when air quality in some part of Illinois was considered Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups (9 for 8-hour ozone and 18 for PM2.5, 2 days were common) Air quality trends for the criteria pollutants are continuing to show downward trends or stable trends well below the level of the standards. Percentage changes over the ten year period 1991 2000 are as follows: Particulate Matter (PM10) 16% decrease, Sulfur Dioxide 25% decrease, Nitrogen Dioxide 5% increase, Carbon Monoxide 42% decrease, Lead 60% decrease, and Ozone 7% decrease. In 2000 the monitoring network was completed for PM2.5 using Federal Reference Method (FRM) monitors at a total of 35 locations Statewide in the final phase of fine particulate (less than 2.5 microns) sampling implementation. Stationary point source emission data has again been included. The data in the report reflects information contained in the Emission Inventory System (EIS) as of December 31, 2000. Emission estimates are for the calendar year 2000 and are for the pollutants: particulate matter, volatile organic material, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides and carbon monoxide. Emission trends of these pollutants has been given for the
years 1981 to the present. Emissions reported with the Annual Emissions Report have been provided starting with 1992. In general there has been a trend toward decreasing emissions over this time period.
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