Local PM-10 Levels
Traffic
Fire Place & Restaurant Grill Regulations
Ways to Reduce PM-10
Aspen PM-10 Pollution Maps
Construction Dust
Contact
“PM-10” is small particulate air pollution including:
PM-10 levels like those Aspen experiences several times a year are associated with:
- Increased hospital admissions
- Greater illness rates
- Increased death rates
This is because PM-10 particles are less than 10 microns in diameter (about 1/7th the thickness of a human hair), which is small enough to be inhaled into the deepest parts of the lung. Aspen was declared a PM-10 non-attainment area in 1988. In the winter, Aspen often has visible air pollution, not only affecting our health, but our natural scenery as well.
View last month's PM-10 levels. PM-10 monitors are located on the roof of the library. This location is not a good measure of what people are exposed to when they walk, drive, or work in town, because the monitors are so high (on a third floor roof) and partly blocked by trees and buildings. The City has been working to find a location that gives a better measure of health impacts, but finding a place in an open area near Main Street, and not blocked by trees or buildings is a challenge.
Traffic
Most of Aspen’s PM-10 is caused by traffic. 83% of Aspen’s PM-10 pollution comes from dirt kicked up by traffic driving on paved roads. A small amount of additional PM-10 comes from vehicle exhaust. The PM-10 caused by traffic can only be lowered by trip reduction measures like carpooling, bus transit, light rail, walking, biking, and/or telecommuting along with the City’s street sweeping efforts. With up to 37,000 vehicle trips each day on Main St., Aspen has a very difficult challenge: PM-10 harms peoples’ health and without reducing Aspen’s high traffic levels, PM-10 levels will continue to be high.
Fire Place & Woodstove Regulations
In order to keep our air as clean as possible, the elected officials of Aspen and Pitkin County have passed codes to regulate the number and types of fireplaces and woodstoves that can be installed in any building. Building permit applicants must file a fireplace/woodstove registration [link to form] with the City of Aspen Building Department or the Pitkin County Building Department before the building permit is issued. Just be sure that the device you are planning on installing is on the Colorado Certified Residential Burning Devices or EPA Certified Residential Burning Devices lists.
See section 13.08.070 in the municipal code on health and quality of environment for more information.
Restaurant Grill Regulations
Restaurants that want to add a char grill may be required to install a PM-10 removal device to protect our local air quality and should speak with an Environmental Health Specialist about how this section of the air quality ordinance will apply.
Municipal Code section 13.08.100
Ways to Reduce PM-10
- Take the bus, bike, walk, or car pool. Most of Aspen’s PM-10 comes from cars driving over and grinding up dirt and sand on the road and kicking it into the air. The days with the lowest PM-10 readings correlate with the days when traffic is at its lowest.
- Burn less wood. Wood smoke creates PM-10, so consider reducing the size or number of fires you have or look into installing a gas burning insert in your existing wood burning fireplace.
- Use a rake and push broom for yard work. Leaf blowers kick dust and debris into the air where it adds to PM-10.
Regulated by the City of Aspen Engineering Department.
Contact
Please contact Lee Cassin at 970-920-5075 with any PM-10 or air quality questions.