Development of an Air Quality Index

For

Trinidad and Tobago

Nicholas Mohammed

813000768

OESH 6100

Dr. Faisal Mohammed

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Table of Contents

Pg. No.

1.0 Introduction & Statement of Problem 3

1.1 Objective 4

2.0 Index Design 5

3.0 Discussion & Sampling Plan 7

4.0 Conclusion 9

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1.0 Introduction & Statement of Problem

The United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) (2016) defines an

“Air Quality Index” (AQI) as a scale, which may be used to report the daily air quality
of a predetermined geographical location. The air quality is measured at one (1) hour
intervals, with respect to the parameters of interest. The concentration of each
parameter is assigned a number; which is referred to as a sub-index number. The
highest sub-index rating for the hour, is then reported as the AQI rating for the given
hour. The numbers range from 0 to 500, with lower scores representing better air
quality.

The USEPA further identifies six (6) parameters as “criteria air pollutants”, due to their
ubiquitous and hazardous nature. These are particulate matter (PM), ground-level
ozone (O3), lead (Pb), carbon monoxide (CO), sulfur dioxide (SO2) and nitrogen
dioxide (NO2).

In Trinidad and Tobago, the Air Pollution Rules, 2014 (Environmental

Management Authority 2015) is the legislation which sets the limit for gaseous
pollutants released from sources, into ambient air. This aims to protect not only the
environment, but safeguards public health as well.

Sources of air pollution may be natural, or anthropogenic in nature. Due to Trinidad

and Tobago’s geographic location, one of the most significant air pollutants is Saharan
dust. Identified by Dr. Azad Mohammed and Marissa Gowrie (Trinidad Guardian 2011)
as a trigger for asthmatic symptoms during the months between February and
October, it is characterized as particulate matter and pollen which also transports
biological material such as bacteria, fungal spores, and viruses.

The Point Lisas Industrial Estate in central Trinidad covers approximately eight
hundred and sixty (860) hectares, and houses around one hundred and three (103)
companies, involved in production and processing of steel, ammonia, methanol, urea,
and other petrochemicals (PLIPDECO 2015). With these extensive operations, an array
of waste products is formed, during respective production and refinement processes;
many of which are gaseous in nature. Surrounding areas such as California and Gran
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Couva are residential settlements, so the quality of air may potentially be degraded,
due to industrial pollution.

The sources of air pollution in Trinidad and Tobago are numerous, stemming
from additional, smaller industrial estates, quarrying, high density traffic and other
contemporary issues of public concern. It is therefore imperative that monitoring
stations at strategic locations, be established. Not only would a database of this nature
be valuable to future research ventures, but also the determination of the relative air
quality within the country, so appropriate mitigation and abatement measures may be
planned.

1.1 Objective

- To develop an appropriate Air Quality Index for Trinidad and Tobago

- To establish a database of air pollutant concentrations over ten (10) years to aid in
future national research ventures.

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2.0 Index Design

The Air Quality Index is divided into six categories as follows;

Air Quality Index for Trinidad & Tobago

AQI Value Range Level of Health Concern Corresponding Color
0 – 50 Good Green
51 – 100 Moderate Yellow
101 – 150 Unhealthy (Sensitive Groups) Orange
151 – 200 Unhealthy (General Public) Red
201 – 300 Very Unhealthy Purple
301 – 500 Hazardous Maroon

Figure 1 – Air Quality Index showing value ranges and meaning

Adapted from the United States Environmental Protection Agency

Figure 1 depicts the varying ranges of the AQI, as well as the corresponding levels of
health concern and associated colors (United States Environmental Protection
Agency 2016). It should be noted that values may exist above 500. These may be
classified as “Extremely Hazardous”.

To determine the AQI, a sub AQI must be developed; the highest value of which,
will be taken as the AQI for the given period. To determine this, the Air Pollution
Rules 2014 permissible limits for the criteria pollutants will be used, to determine
weightings (refer to Table 2).

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Table 2

The Criteria Pollutants, and corresponding Permissible Limits in Ambient Air

According to the Air Pollution Rules 2014 – Schedule 1

Short Term Applicable Short

Averaging
Parameter Maximum Term Maximum
Time
Permissible Level Permissible Level
Particulate
24 hours 150 μg/m3 150 μg/m3
Matter (TSP)
Ozone (O3) 8 hours 120 μg/m3 360 μg/m3
Lead (Pb) 30 minutes 10 μg/m3 480 μg/m3
Carbon
Monoxide 8 hours 10,000 μg/m3 30,000 μg/m3
(CO)
Sulfur
24 hours 125 μg/m3 125 μg/m3
Dioxide (SO2)
Nitrogen
Dioxide 1 hour 200 μg/m3 4,800 μg/m3
(NO2)

The goal of this AQI is to return a daily AQI value. To achieve this, the shirt term
maximum permissible levels of the criteria pollutants were used, and averaging times
as well as their corresponding concentrations were multiplied, to find an applicable
short term permissible level, for a twenty-four (24) hour period.

The sub index can hence be calculated. Below, the sample calculations for the
parameter of Ozone is presented, showing AQI upper limits, and corresponding
concentrations;

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500+ = >360 μg/m3

500 = 360 μg/m3

300 = [ (360 μg/m3 / 500) x (300) ] = 216 μg/m3

200 = [ (360 μg/m3 / 500) x (200) ] = 144 μg/m3

150 = 108 μg/m3

100 = 72 μg/m3

50 = 36 μg/m3

The upper limit for all pollutants may be determined utilizing this method. Calculations
when returned by equipment, should ideally be automated. Finally, the AQI value for
that day, will be determined by using the highest value within the sub-index. An
average is not necessary as it presents the bias of a reduced value, should large
disparities exist between concentrations used. However, if a maximum value is used,
this bias is eliminated as the value presented tells if there is overall cause for concern
or not, given a high gaseous/particulate concentration.

3.0 Discussion & Sampling Plan

The key considerations for sampling will be geography, climate, and nature of
equipment used. Trinidad and Tobago is geographically situated close to the Equator.
Due to this, as well as the Coriolis Effect; whereby air parcels swirl counter-clockwise
in the Northern Hemisphere and clockwise in the Southern Hemisphere (National
Geographic 2015), the islands experience trade winds from a north-easterly direction.
The points of interest to be sampled, must be monitored by a station which is
downwind to the site. Points of interest may include;

- Port of Spain; Given the high density of vehicular activity, and the Beetham
Dump site

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- Sir Solomon Hochoy Highway; A highly utilized major road way.

- East-West Corridor; A highly utilized major road way.
- Point Lisas Industrial Estate; A highly industrialized site. Surrounding
settlements may be suitable alternatives.
- Major cities with high-density thoroughfare; Such as Arima, San-Fernando, etc.
- The Eastern Coastline; Measures for Saharan Dust.
- Smaller Industrial Estates; Such as those within eTeck parks.

Trinidad and Tobago has two seasons; being the dry season from January to May
and the wet season from June to December. During the dry season, there exists a
greater incidence of wildfires. This means that smoke from these sources may spike
the concentrations of NO2 and PM, leading to data biases. Additionally, a study
conducted in China by Qiu et al. (2013) shows that cool and dry weathers, with high
humidity; akin to Trinidad and Tobago may amplify the detrimental health effects of
particulate matter, nitrogen dioxide and ozone. Temperature inversions; formed when
warm air displaces cold air, may also cause hazardous plumes of air to subsist near
ground level. These elevated concentrations may cause an increase in adverse effects
in humans. Ground level ozone is another concern, as it tends to form on warmer days
when NOx and VOCs react in the presence of sunlight.

In the rainy season, pollutants released into the upper atmosphere from stack plumes
may fall to the ground, and be a cause for concern. The Environmental Protection
Agency (2015) outlines a listing of designated references and equivalent methods
which, when followed, ensures data is collected with appropriate quality control
methods applied. Many companies such as Caipol, Aeroqual and GASMET
Technologies, design equipment which is comparable to these methods. Given that
the data must be presented daily however, methods applying electrochemical sensors
should be used to give a lower turn-around-time for data availability. Additionally, they
should be calibrated as required, and physically positioned at a location whereby the
data collected is not biased, bur representative of prevailing conditions.
Electrochemical sensors may also be replaced quickly, in the event of failure. A regime
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whereby the equipment is verified to be producing accurate results should also be

developed, as electrochemical sensors are subject to drift. Security of the equipment
should also be considered in the form of cages, or otherwise, as temperament may
affect the quality of data produced.

Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) is another form of analysis which may
be used. Though more expensive than electrochemical sensors, it offers the key
benefits of having lower detection limits, as well as being more accurate in determining
concentrations; as it operates by analyzing the unique absorbances of infrared
radiation emitted by gasses. The key disadvantage of this method however, is that
data discrepancies may arise, if gases have similar absorbances, leading to false
concentrations being reported (LibreTexts 2015). Whatever the method used, a valid
(and accredited) quality control program should exist.

4.0 Conclusion

An Air Quality Index is needed in Trinidad and Tobago, as part of our strive to
become a greener society, and a first-world nation that makes data driven decisions.
The Air Quality Index proposed, will be applicable to the criteria pollutants identified
by the United States Environmental Protection Agency. It will report the highest sub-
index value as the daily AQI level. Monitoring stations should be placed in key
locations, within the country (refer to section 3.0). However, key considerations such
as prevailing winds, geographical location, and climatic conditions are important when
developing a suitable sampling plan. The monitoring system used should comply to a
USEPA federal reserve methodology, and follow an accredited quality control plan, to
verify the validity of all readings.

The final AQI may be presented on a governmental website, showing daily

values at all surveillance sites. The raw data collected should also be made available
to citizens, for use in research, so as to help advance Trinidad and Tobago as an
effective and greener society.

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References

Environmental Management Authority (EMA). 2015. Air Pollution Rules - 2014.

Accessed December 31, 2017.
www.ema.co.tt/new/index.php/legal/legislation/air-pollution.

H, Qiu, Yu I, Tian L, Tse L, and Wong T. 2013. Cool and dry weather enhances the
effects of air pollution on emergency IHD hospital admissions. September.
Accessed December 31, 2017.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23079091.

LibreTexts. 2015. How a FTIR SPectrometer Operates. February 17. Accessed

December 31, 2017.
https://chem.libretexts.org/Core/Physical_and_Theoretical_Chemistry/Spectro
scopy/Vibrational_Spectroscopy/Infrared_Spectroscopy/How_an_FTIR_Spectr
ometer_Operates.

National Geographic. 2015. Coriolis effect. Accessed December 31, 2017.

https://www.nationalgeographic.org/encyclopedia/coriolis-effect/.

PLIPDECO. 2015. The Point Lisas Industrial Estate. Accessed December 31, 2017.
http://www.plipdeco.com/main/index.php?page=estate-management-
overview.

Trinidad Guardian. 2011. Saharan dust blows in respiratory problems. July 01.
Accessed December 31, 2017.
http://www.guardian.co.tt/news/2011/07/01/saharan-dust-blows-respiratory-
problems.

United States Environmental Protection Agency. 2016. Air Quality Index (AQI)
Basics. August 31. Accessed December 30, 2017.
https://airnow.gov/index.cfm?action=aqibasics.aqi.

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