Air quality in Tulsa

Is Tulsa a city with good air quality?

Tulsa is the second-largest city in the state of Oklahoma with a population of approximately 401,190 as of 2019. This shows an overall increase of over 11,000 since 2010.

At the beginning of 2021, Tulsa was experiencing a period of “Moderate” quality air with a US AQI reading of 71. This classification is in accordance with recommendations from the World Health Organisation (WHO). The concentration of PM2.5 was recorded as being 21.4 µg/m³.

With a level as high as this, the advice would be to close all doors and windows to prevent the ingress of dirty air into the rooms. Those people with a sensitive disposition should avoid venturing outside until the air quality improves.

Does the air quality in Tulsa vary throughout the year?

In 2020, according to figures just released on the IQAir website, Tulsa achieved the WHO target of less than 10 µg/m³. The average recorded number was actually 9.7 µg/m³. It attained similar figures for 6 months of the year. For the remaining six months the figure was only slightly worse with figures between 10 and 12 µg/m³.

Looking back at the 2019 levels of pollution it can be seen that during May and June as well as October, November and December, Tulsa, once again achieved the WHO target. January and April saw “Good” readings that fell between 10 and 12 µg/m³. The remaining 5 months recorded the air quality as “Moderate” with readings between 12.1 and 35.4 µg/m³.

Looking back over previous years it is clear that the air quality remains about the same. The 2017 average figure was 10.3 µg/m³, whereas in 2018 it was 11.6 µg/m³. This 2018 number was then mirrored in 2019.

Why is Tulsa air quality bad?

Over the last few years, the air quality in Tulsa has improved in regards to air pollution caused by ozone (O₃). Tulsa ranked 19^thamong cities with the most high ozone days, according to “State of the Air 2016,” which compared data from 2012 to 2014. This is an improvement on previous years when Tulsa was ranked at 12^th.

Invisible ozone is the most widespread air pollutant in the US. It is detrimental to health in that it is harmful to breathe and may cause cardiovascular problems and premature death.

There is not a lot of car-pooling here, and there’s not a lot of convenient bus transportation. The city is not laid out in a way that’s conducive to that. It is worth noting that the average person drives 20 to 30 miles to and from work by themselves.

Where does the air pollution in Tulsa come from?

A large number of commuters and a lack of strict regulations are the two main factors that contribute to the state’s ozone pollution.

The high heat during the summer months also plays a part as ozone is formed using ultraviolet waves as a catalyst. Take into account the large number of vehicles making their daily commute and the emissions from factories, it should be more important for the local authorities to introduce regulations on traffic and car-pooling and to consider the quality of their air. Unfortunately, the State has fairly lax regulations with regards to factories and for oil and gas production.

Ozone (O₃) is a gas molecule composed of three oxygen atoms. Ozone is harmful to breathe as it aggressively attacks lung tissue by reacting chemically with it.

The ozone layer found high up in the atmosphere (the stratosphere) shields the earth from much of the sun's ultraviolet radiation. However, ozone air pollution at ground level where we can breathe it (in the troposphere) can cause serious health problems.

The “raw ingredients” for ozone are nitrogen oxides (NO_x) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs). They are produced primarily when fossil fuels such as gasoline, oil or coal are burned or when some chemicals, like solvents, evaporate. Nitrogen oxide is emitted from power plants, motor vehicles and other sources of high-heat combustion. VOCs are emitted from motor vehicles, chemical plants, refineries, factories, service stations, paint and other sources.

Is anything being done to improve the air quality in Tulsa?

Polluted air affects everyone’s health, the growth of the vegetation, and can pollute freshwater. For a healthier community air quality needs to be taken seriously. Ground-level ozone is one of the nation’s most common air contaminants.

With this high level of ozone in the city’s air, the advice for the community is for "sensitive groups to avoid prolonged or heavy outdoor exertion. Schedule outdoor activities in the morning when ozone is lower or consider moving activities indoors if practical. People who suffer from asthma must keep their inhalers handy. The rest of the population should reduce prolonged or heavy outdoor exertion. Take more breaks, do less intense activities and schedule outdoor activities in the morning when ozone is lower.

There are large electronic display boards erected in prominent places which indicate to motorists when the level of ozone is especially high. During these times, people are encouraged to make an extra effort to do little things like ride their bike, take the bus, or carpool to work.

These are some suggestions to help reduce the ozone level in Tulsa:

• Turn off lights when the room is empty
• Drive less: carpool, use public transportation, cycle or walk
• Keep your engine tuned, and don’t let your engine idle
• When refuelling: stop when the pump shuts off, avoid spilling fuel, and tighten your fuel cap
• Inflate tyres to the recommended pressure
• Use low-VOC paint and cleaning products, and seal and store them so they can’t evaporate.

Small changes such as these soon begin to become large changes if enough people practice them.

How is human health affected by the poor air quality in Tulsa?

The health impacts of air pollution range from premature death, overweight and obesity, cerebral infarction, heart disease, various types of cancer, with the most prevalent lung cancer and acute or chronic respiratory diseases, asthma, obstructive pulmonary disease, to less serious but more common effects such as respiratory distress, headache, dizziness, irritation, and eye inflammation.

Citizens require clean transportation systems and healthy streets, where children have the opportunity to enjoy public space and become active, without running the risk of suffering permanent consequences on their health.

Air quality is essential for this.

Excess ozone in the air can have serious adverse effects on human health. It can cause breathing problems, increase asthma attacks, reduce lung function which can lead to lung disease. It is currently one of the atmospheric pollutants of greatest concern in the US. Various studies have revealed that daily mortality and mortality from heart disease increase by 0.3 per cent and 0.4 per cent respectively with an increase of 10 µg/m³ in ozone concentration.