Connecticut Department of Energy & Environmental Protection

Emergency Burn Ban In Effect 10/26/24 - An emergency burn ban is now in effect for all Connecticut State Parks, Forests, and Wildlife Management areas, prohibiting the use of all outdoor grills, firepits, and campfires, and the kindling and use of flame outdoors. DEEP and local agencies are working to contain several active fires across the state. Please avoid all affected State Parks and Forests, as well as the blue-blazed Mattabesett Trail. The Enduro Trail in Voluntown and portions of North Stonington within the Pachaug State Forest are closed at this time. Please note that today's forest fire danger report remains at an 'extreme' level. More information about the current fire danger, burn ban and recommended safety measures can be found here

Air Quality Trends - NO2

Air quality trends are used to assess if the air quality is improving and thereby determine if control and abatement strategies are effective. Ozone • PM2.5 • Carbon Monoxide • Nitrogen Dioxide • Sulfur Dioxide • Lead

EPA first set standards for nitrogen dioxide (NO2) in 1971, setting both a primary standard (to protect health) and a secondary standard (to protect the public welfare) at 53 parts per billion (ppb), averaged annually.  The following figure shows the decrease in annual design value NO2 levels since 1983, well below the annual National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS) of 53 ppb.

Trends of Annual Nitrogen Dioxides in Connecticut 

Please select for a larger view of the NO2 Plot

On January 22, 2010, EPA strengthened the NAAQS for NO2 by setting a new 1-hour NO2 standard at the level of 100 ppb.  It will protect against adverse health effects associated with short-term exposure to NO2, including respiratory effects that can result in admission to a hospital. The form for the 1-hour NO2 standard, is the 3-year average of the 98th percentile of the annual distribution of daily maximum 1-hour average concentrations.  This new NAAQS will require near-road monitoring, which will commence in January 2013.  The three years of data required for design value calculations and subsequent attainment/nonattainment determinations will not be available until after 2015.  In the interim, Governor Rell sent EPA a December 17, 2010 letter, recommending that EPA designate all of Connecticut as “unclassifiable” under CAA Section 107(d)(1).  EPA responded with a letter dated January 20, 2012, which designated Connecticut as “unclassifiable” for NO2.  The following figure shows the newly calculated 1-hour NO2 design values for monitoring sites since 1983.  It shows a general decrease in the 1-hour design values, well below the new 1-hour NAAQS of 100 ppb.

Hourly Nitrogen Dioxide Trends 

Please select for a larger view of the NO2 Plot

Content Last Updated December 14, 2023