Recently the city of Atlanta has greatly decreased it's pollution levels from over 75 in 1999, to below 40 on average in 2010. A majority of this change is due to Atlanta's decrease in Lead and Carbon Monoxide output. The city's average daily AQI in 2013 is around 28; this is satisfactory, and air pollution poses little or no risk.
Average Yearly Levels (2009):
CO (Carbon monoxide) - .19 ppm
NO2 (Nitrogen dioxide) - .0105 ppm
O3 (Ground level ozone) - .0473 ppm
SO2 (Sulfur dioxide) - .0017 ppm
Particulate matter - 20.1 mcg/m³
Lead - .0028 mcg/m³
Atlanta is one of the most spread out cities in the United States. It have very few natural barriers, therefore it is able to grow in nearly every direction, on average citizens spend 31 minutes a day in their cars, producing CO emissions. However considering the cities large size, industry, and low-income communities, the AQI levels are impressively low.
Atlanta has dozens of programs and regulations in place to improve the air quality state wide, a examples are: Ambient Monitoring Program, Industrial Source Monitoring Program, Stationary Source Compliance Program, and the Mobile & Area Sources Program. There is an entire book based upon the air quality laws in Atlanta available here: http://www.georgiaair.org/airpermit/downloads/aqrules/airrules080912.pdf
Average Yearly Levels (2009):
CO (Carbon monoxide) - .19 ppm
NO2 (Nitrogen dioxide) - .0105 ppm
O3 (Ground level ozone) - .0473 ppm
SO2 (Sulfur dioxide) - .0017 ppm
Particulate matter - 20.1 mcg/m³
Lead - .0028 mcg/m³
Atlanta is one of the most spread out cities in the United States. It have very few natural barriers, therefore it is able to grow in nearly every direction, on average citizens spend 31 minutes a day in their cars, producing CO emissions. However considering the cities large size, industry, and low-income communities, the AQI levels are impressively low.
Atlanta has dozens of programs and regulations in place to improve the air quality state wide, a examples are: Ambient Monitoring Program, Industrial Source Monitoring Program, Stationary Source Compliance Program, and the Mobile & Area Sources Program. There is an entire book based upon the air quality laws in Atlanta available here: http://www.georgiaair.org/airpermit/downloads/aqrules/airrules080912.pdf