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2011 | Richmond City, Virginia | Air pollution-particulate matter days

Summary Information

Range in Virginia
(Min-Max):		 0-4
Overall in Virginia: 1
National Benchmark: 0 (90th percentile)

Ranking Methodology

Summary Measure: Health Factors - Physical Environment (Air Quality)
Weight in Health Factors: 2.5%
Years of Data Used: 2006
Map ↓
The counties are shaded with lighter counties having a better rank. Gray counties are not reported (NR).
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The air pollution—particulate matter measure represents the annual number of days that air quality was unhealthy for sensitive populations due to fine particulate matter (FPM, < 2.5 µm in diameter).

The Public Health Air Surveillance Evaluation (PHASE) project, a collaborative effort between the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the EPA, used Community Multi-Scale Air Quality Model (CMAQ) output and air quality monitor data to create a spatial-temporal model that estimated fine particulate matter concentrations throughout the year. The PHASE estimates were used to calculate the number of days per year that air quality in a county was unhealthy for sensitive population due to FPM.  The state and national values are an average of county values weighted by population size.


The relationship between elevated air pollution—particularly fine particulate matter and ozone—and compromised health has been well documented. The negative consequences of ambient air pollution include decreased lung function, chronic bronchitis, asthma, and other adverse pulmonary effects.

More Information

Scroll down for details on this measure for all of the counties in this state.

Table ↓
PM Days Number of days in 2006 that air quality was unhealthy due to fine particulate matter
Z-Score (Measure - Average of VA counties)/(Standard Deviation)
PlacePM DaysZ-Score
Accomack10.39
Albemarle0-0.64
Alexandria City32.45
Alleghany0-0.64
Amelia21.42
Amherst0-0.64
Appomattox0-0.64
Arlington21.42
Augusta0-0.64
Bath0-0.64
Bedford0-0.64
Bedford City0-0.64
Bland0-0.64
Botetourt0-0.64
Bristol City10.39
Brunswick10.39
Buchanan0-0.64
Buckingham0-0.64
Buena Vista City0-0.64
Campbell0-0.64
Caroline10.39
Carroll0-0.64
Charles City10.39
Charlotte0-0.64
Charlottesville City0-0.64
Chesapeake City0-0.64
Chesterfield21.42
Clarke0-0.64
Colonial Heights City21.42
Covington City0-0.64
Craig0-0.64
Culpeper0-0.64
Cumberland21.42
Danville City0-0.64
Dickenson0-0.64
Dinwiddie21.42
Emporia City0-0.64
Essex10.39
Fairfax43.49
Fairfax City0-0.64
Falls Church City32.45
Fauquier0-0.64
Floyd0-0.64
Fluvanna0-0.64
Franklin0-0.64
Franklin City10.39
Frederick0-0.64
Fredericksburg City0-0.64
Galax City0-0.64
Giles0-0.64
Gloucester10.39
Goochland10.39
Grayson0-0.64
Greene0-0.64
Greensville0-0.64
Halifax0-0.64
Hampton City32.45
Hanover10.39
Harrisonburg City0-0.64
Henrico32.45
Henry0-0.64
Highland0NR
Hopewell City21.42
Isle of Wight10.39
James City10.39
King and Queen10.39
King George10.39
King William10.39
Lancaster0-0.64
Lee0-0.64
Lexington City0NR
Loudoun10.39
Louisa0-0.64
Lunenburg10.39
Lynchburg City0-0.64
Madison0-0.64
Manassas City0-0.64
Manassas Park City0-0.64
Martinsville City0-0.64
Mathews10.39
Mecklenburg0-0.64
Middlesex0-0.64
Montgomery0-0.64
Nelson0-0.64
New Kent10.39
Newport News City10.39
Norfolk City43.49
Northampton10.39
Northumberland0-0.64
Norton City0-0.64
Nottoway21.42
Orange0-0.64
Page0-0.64
Patrick0-0.64
Petersburg City21.42
Pittsylvania0-0.64
Poquoson City32.45
Portsmouth City32.45
Powhatan10.39
Prince Edward21.42
Prince George21.42
Prince William0-0.64
Pulaski0-0.64
Radford City0-0.64
Rappahannock0-0.64
Richmond0-0.64
Richmond City21.42
Roanoke0-0.64
Roanoke City10.39
Rockbridge0-0.64
Rockingham0-0.64
Russell0-0.64
Salem City0-0.64
Scott10.39
Shenandoah0-0.64
Smyth0-0.64
Southampton0-0.64
Spotsylvania0-0.64
Stafford0-0.64
Staunton City0-0.64
Suffolk City10.39
Surry21.42
Sussex0-0.64
Tazewell0-0.64
Virginia Beach City32.45
Warren0-0.64
Washington0-0.64
Waynesboro City0-0.64
Westmoreland0-0.64
Williamsburg City10.39
Winchester City0-0.64
Wise0-0.64
Wythe0-0.64
York10.39

NR in Z-Score column indicates county "not ranked"