The NJDEP Bureau of Air Monitoring operated 3 ambient air monitoring stations. The stations vary in the number and type of monitors operating at each site. The NJDEP air monitoring program is primarily focused on the measurement of pollutants for which NAAQS have been established, also known as criteria pollutants. Criteria pollutant monitoring is regulated by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA), which prescribes the design and siting of the monitoring networks, the acceptable monitoring methods, and the minimum quality assurance activities. Only data which meet USEPA requirements can be used to determine compliance with the NAAQS. There are six criteria air pollutants: carbon monoxide (CO), lead (Pb), nitrogen dioxide (NO 2), ozone (O 3), sulfur dioxide (SO 2), and particulate matter (PM).
New Jersey has been divided into nine (9) Pollutant Standards Index reporting regions. An air quality summary and forecast, known as the Pollutant Standards Index (PSI) is reported daily for each region in New Jersey. Each pollutant monitored in the region is given a numerical PSI rating based on the concentration recorded for the previous day. The total PSI for the region is equal to the highest rating given to any pollutant within that region. A PSI rating of 100 or greater indicates that at least one pollutant has reached or exceeded the applicable primary ambient air quality standard.
In this region, monitoring sites are located at Colliers Mills and Monmouth University for ozone (O3), Toms River for particulate matter.
Table 2: National Ambient Air Quality Standards
| Primary | Secondary | |
|---|---|---|
| Total suspended Particulates (μ g/m3)\n12-month geometric meanb\nAverage 24-hour concentrationb | 75 μ g/m3a\n260 μ g/m3c | 60 μ g/m3b\n150 μ g/m3c |
| Inhalable Particulates (PM10) (μ g/m3)\nAnnual arithmetic mean\n24-hour average | 50 μ g/m3\n150 μ g/m3 | 50 μ g/m3\n150 μ g/m3 |
| Sulfur Dioxide (SO2) (μ g/m3)\n12-month arithmetic mean\nAverage 24-hour concentration\nAverage 3-hour concentration\nDaily average | 80 μ g/m3 (0.03 ppm)\n365 μ g/m3 (0.14 ppm)a\n- 0.14 ppm (365 μ g/m3)b | 60 μ g/m3 (0.02 ppm)b\n260 μ g/m3 (0.10 ppm)a\n1300 μ g/m3 (0.50 ppm)a |
| Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2) (μ g/m3)\n12-month arithmetic mean\nAnnual average\n1-hour average guideline | 100 (0.05 ppm)\n100 μ g/m3 (0.53 ppm)\n47 μ g/m3 (0.25 ppm) | 100 (0.05 ppm)\n100 μ g/m3 (0.53 ppm)\n- |
| Carbon Monoxide (CO) (μ g/m3)\nAverage 8-hour concentration\nAverage 1-hour concentration | 10 μ g/m3 (9 ppm)\n40 μ g/m3 (35 ppm) | 10 (9 ppm)f\n40 (35 ppm)f |
| Ozone (O3) (μ g/m3)\nMaximum daily 1-hour average\n1-hour average\n8-hour average | 235 μ g/m3 (0.12 ppm)f\n- 0.08 ppm | 160 μ g/m3 (0.08 ppm)b\n235 μ g/m3 (0.12 ppm)f\n0.08 ppm |