Knox County Air Quality (Knoxville, Chattanooga: employers, air pollution, warm)

[hiknapster]

There's been a few questions about air quality.

American Lung Association:*Air Pollution Facts & Air Quality Info - County Report - ALA State of the Air 2007

[TriDad]

wow...Hamilton County scored a "D" whereas Broward County, FL got a "A"

hmmm

[JMT]

Originally Posted by TriDad

wow...Hamilton County scored a "D" whereas Broward County, FL got a "A"

hmmm

That's not surprising considering Chattanooga is surrounded by mountains and Fort Lauderdale's foul air just floats out over the Atlantic Ocean.

In some extreme examples, places like Chattanooga or Salt Lake City have what's called "temperature inversions" in the wintertime where the cold, heavy air mixes with pollution and moisture and is trapped in the valley (cold air is heavier than warm air). The mountains surrounding are actually warmer and clearer. Flying over the valley in an airplane is like looking into a bowl of pea soup.

So being surrounded by mountains is a mixed blessing. They're beautiful, but they do help trap moisture and pollutants.

By the way, lest people think that we humans are the reason there's so much pollution in the mountains, don't forget that the mountains around here have been called "Smoky" for hundreds of years, long before Europeans brought the combustion engine to the Appalachians.

[john t]

Wow,

Knox county failed annual particle mass pollution. Unreal. 43% of the population is at risk.

Even the Los Angeles area has few people per capita at risk. LA county 38%, Orange county 39%.

Thanks for posting that. I knew things were bad, just didn't know they were that bad.

[knoxgarden]

Los Angeles, Riverside and San Bernardino Counties still top all the lists for worst air in all categories.
American Lung Association:*Air Pollution Facts & Air Quality Info - Best & Worst Cities - ALA State of the Air 2007
Knoxville still has a lot of coal powered electricity. Look for the power plant on the Clinch River when you drive by on I-40. You'll see a big mountain of black coal sitting there.

[hiknapster]

Yes. There's a mountain of coal at Bull Run steam plant, too. It gives us cheap electricity, though.

[john t]

That's Kingston Steam Plant, in Roane county. Bull Run is also coal fired nearby in Anderson county.

Coal is actually not very cheap anymore. Hydro is still the way to go. If true energy savings were in place we could provide a much greater percentage of 100% clean hydro. Coal fired plants have been getting cleaner but with the demand for more and more energy, things will not get any better.

The really terrible thing is that the Knoxville area has only 3% of LA metro's estimated population but still has a huge amount of annual pm 2.5

[mbmouse]

Well how interesting is this!? Thanks Hiknapster for posting this. I find it very interesting (and kind of amusing) that everyone complains that one of the largest employers in East TN, Eastman Chemical, is to blame for such horrible air quality, yet Sullivan County (Kingsport), where that plant is, passed and has good air quality compared to Knoxville which failed. I admit, I am surprised of the results.
American Lung Association:*Air Pollution Facts & Air Quality Info - No Monitor Message - ALA State of the Air 2007
I am not saying one area is "better" than another in any respect but more to the point, goes to show the difference between assumptions of a place verses the facts of a place.

[12buttons]

Originally Posted by john t

That's Kingston Steam Plant, in Roane county. Bull Run is also coal fired nearby in Anderson county.

Coal is actually not very cheap anymore. Hydro is still the way to go. If true energy savings were in place we could provide a much greater percentage of 100% clean hydro. Coal fired plants have been getting cleaner but with the demand for more and more energy, things will not get any better.

The really terrible thing is that the Knoxville area has only 3% of LA metro's estimated population but still has a huge amount of annual pm 2.5

Seems knoxville is hit form all sides..asthma capital, bad air , risk from nuclear accident ..yikes -think I'll pass.

[supernerdgirl]

Originally Posted by john t

Wow,

Knox county failed annual particle mass pollution. Unreal. 43% of the population is at risk.

Even the Los Angeles area has few people per capita at risk. LA county 38%, Orange county 39%.

Thanks for posting that. I knew things were bad, just didn't know they were that bad.

oh, i did. i spent half of my time living there not able to breathe.