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 Belching smokestacks were common in the early years of air pollution control. Buildings downtown were often discolored from pollution. Industrial and commercial sources of air pollution were a key focus for clean-up. This was a large undertaking for most industries, as air pollution control equipment had to be designed for each process, ordered, shipped, and installed. Over the years, new equipment and improved operations have dramatically reduced air pollution from the commercial sector, which now accounts for less than 20% of air pollution sources.
 To find out what was in the air and where it was coming from, the agency initially relied on time-consuming wet chemistry methods and visual observations. In the early years, "fallout buckets" and "sticky tape jars" were used to capture pollution. Empty jars covered with sticky tape and buckets were placed on property downwind from industrial polluters to show that emissions were impacting neighboring property. Today, sophisticated air quality monitoring stations are located throughout Spokane County, providing real-time data on pollution levels.
Smoke, soot and odors from outdoor burning were the source of many citizen complaints. Backyard burning was a common practice, as was burning piles of construction debris. Residents burned trash outdoors until 1969, when this practice was banned and garbage collection services were expanded. When commercial businesses were no longer allowed to burn, dumpsters were purchased and businesses began recycling cardboard.
Today, outdoor burning for disposal is limited to natural vegetation and only in outlying areas of the county on designated days. Natural vegetation is picked up at curbside in many areas, and accepted at area recycling/transfer stations.
In the mid 1970s, unleaded gasoline became available and catalytic converters were installed on vehicles. In the mid 80s, the vehicle emissions testing program was initiated to reduce carbon monoxide pollution.
When the Agency first began its work, there was a brown haze covering the city. The air contained pollutants from many sources, which caused breathing problems and poor visibility. After three decades of cleaning up the air, Spokane was officially removed from "nonattainment" status by U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in 2005.
Since then, we have remained in attainment of all federal clean air standards. Soot covered buildings are a thing of the past, as industry installed sophisticated air pollution control technologies. Technology has also made our cars are much cleaner and our wood stoves less polluting and more efficient. Most of our well-traveled dirt roads have been paved and burning natural vegetation has been phased-out in our cities, towns and urban growth areas. Businesses are supporting commute trip reduction programs by encouraging employees to find new ways to get to work. The community is working together to secure funding to make our great city more bicycle- and pedestrian-friendly.
This isn't to say our work is done. A new, more stringent federal standard for PM2.5 — fine particles like soot and smoke — was established in late 2006 and more recently, the acceptable limits for ground-level ozone (smog) were reduced to be more protective of public health. As our area grows and more people, cars and businesses are added to our airshed, we'll continue to face challenges to keep our air quality within federal, health-based standards.
To continue our progress and maintain healthful air quality for the next 40 years, we will need the continued involvement of our residents and business owners. The daily choices we each make have a collective impact on the quality of the air we share. Click here for ideas on how you can help improve air quality in Spokane.
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