The Air Monitoring section of the AVAQMD is charged with monitoring the air in compliance with the Federal Clean Air Act and California air pollution laws.

There are certain pollutants that are found almost everywhere that are harmful to humans if their concentration in the ambient air is above certain levels. In the United States, National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) have been set for each of these pollutants.

These standards include six pollutants: particulate matter(PM), sulfur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen dioxide(NO2), carbon monoxide(CO), photochemical oxidants(O3), and lead(Pb).

For each criteria pollutant except carbon monoxide, both primary and secondary standards have been established. The primary standards are set at levels that protect public health. If the ambient concentrations of those pollutants remain below their primary NAAQS, it is believed that the most sensitive member of the public will not be harmed by breathing the air. The secondary standards are set at levels that protect public welfare. This means that if concentrations remain below the secondary standards, crops, buildings, etc., will not be damaged. Continuously monitoring the air tells us whether or not we are "in compliance" with these standards.--source: Environmental Resource Guide-Air Quality

The Antelope Valley is part of the EPA's "Ozone Mapping" program and network. Our air quality is monitored continuously, 24 hours a day, seven days a week from the Antelope Valley Air Quality Management District's location at 43301 Division Street in Lancaster. Near real time data is available to the public via this web site and ozone information and forecasts are available at the EPA's AirNow web site as well.

Informing the public as to how atmospherics and air pollution might affect every day activities has become a priority with the Environmental Protection Agency. Meteorologists and Modelers now have immediate data at their disposal which facilitates the generation of more accurate and timely air quality forecasts. The EPA's AirNow web site gives the public a wide selection of data products including near real time ozone data in a graphical format from air quality districts nation wide. Links to to the EPA web site and the Ozone Mapping presentations can be found elsewhere on our web site.

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