Tracking Maryland's Air Pollution
By
Capital News Service and Maryland Newsline staffs
Sunday, April 29, 2001
WASHINGTON - Maryland posted a slight drop in overall air pollution over the last four years,
according to a Capital News Service analysis of the Maryland Department of
the Environment's annual emissions certification reports for facilities with either a state air quality permit or a
federal Clean Air Act operating permit.
Year |
1996 |
1997 |
1998 |
1999 |
No. of Facilities Permitted |
486
|
521
|
526
|
520 |
Volatile Organic Compounds* |
9,505
|
9,738 |
9,374
|
8,249
|
Nitrogen Oxides* |
134,417
|
138,124
|
149,460
|
133,867
|
Hazardous Air Pollutants* |
5,133
|
5,138
|
4,620
|
4,728
|
Particulate Matter* |
10,686
|
11,758
|
11,486
|
9,664
|
Sulfur Dioxide* |
287,258
|
299,535
|
328,491
|
320,121
|
Carbon Monoxide* |
168,731
|
178,853
|
139,321
|
119,064
|
Total Emissions* |
615,730
|
643,146
|
642,752
|
595,693
|
*All pollutants are measured in tons.
SOURCES: Maryland Department of the Environment; Bethlehem Steel
reports
Copyright © 2001 University of Maryland College of Journalism
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