Ozone Monitoring

A network of five air quality monitoring stations, located in the three counties, continually monitor ozone levels from May 1st through September 30th. The Michigan Department of Environmental Quality and Environmental Protection Agency use the average based 8-hour standard information collected by these monitoring stations. For each station, the 4th highest 8-hour value averaged over three years is not to exceed 85 parts per billion. If over three years, the average of the highest ozone values is over 85 ppb then a violation is recorded. The Air Quality Index (AQI) is a tool used to communicate air quality to the public that is separate from the 8-hour standard. The AQI for ozone uses 85 parts per billion as the "unhealthy for sensitive groups" health indicator. In order to help protect the health of the community, an Ozone Action day will be called on days where the ozone air concentrations are forecast to exceed 85 parts per billion.

For current air quality information you can View Ozone Monitors (Michigan Department of Environmental Quality website) to see real time data from monitoring stations around the state.

Previous Ozone Action Day Notifications

The West Michigan Clean Air Coalition is a partnership of businesses, academic institutions, government agencies, industry, and non-profit organizations in Kent, Ottawa, Muskegon, and Kalamazoo counties working together to achieve cleaner air in the region through the education and promotion of voluntary emission reduction activities.