The District's air quality is forecasted and assessed on a regular basis. Results indicate that it is similar to air quality in other urban areas throughout the Mid-Atlantic area. The entire Washington, D.C., metropolitan area, which includes parts of Virginia and Maryland, is currently in attainment of the Federal health standards (NAAQS) for all criteria pollutants except for two: ground-level ozone and PM2.5.

Although some of the District's pollution is generated by stationary sources ("point" and "area" sources), which are often permitted, a majority is a result of transport and transportation:

Transport - Pollutants travels into the District on prevailing winds from facilities in surrounding states. Wind projectory data and monitoring results regularly demonstrate that emissions from power plants from along the Ohio River and in the Tennessee Valley contribute to the District's pollution problem. Pollutants generated within the District also travel to other states.

Transportation - Pollutants are emitted by on-road and off-road motor vehicles such as cars, trucks, buses, trains, planes, and construction vehicles.

Control strategies are continually being developed and implemented to maintain existing air quality and further reduce pollution in the air.

Related Links:

• Air Quality Program, Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments
• Annual State of the Air Report, American Lung Association
• Air Protection Program, EPA Region 3
• AirData: Access to Air Pollution Data, EPA