Area Sources
Mecklenburg County, North Carolina
An area source is a collection of individually small emission sources within a single
geographical area that produces similar air pollutants. Area sources are classified together by air quality control
agencies to facilitate estimating emissions from their activities because they are usually too small or too numerous to
be inventoried individually. Examples of area sources in Mecklenburg County include dry cleaners, parking decks,
automobile refinishing operations, gas stations, and even the family lawnmower, barbecue grill, or fire pit. Area
sources are not all man-made - they also include emissions from wildfires and other natural occurrences. Although
emissions from individual area sources are relatively small, collectively their emissions can be of concern particularly where a large number of sources are located together in heavily populated areas. In Mecklenburg
County alone, more than 10,000 tons per year of volatile organic compounds (VOC) were estimated to be emitted
from area sources in 2012 - this is almost nine times the VOC emissions reported from permitted stationary sources
in 2012! Area sources can require permitting, and many of the larger individual facilities such as gas stations or
automobile refinishing shops are issued air quality permits in Mecklenburg County. However, most are exempt from
permitting due to their size, activity, or emission rate. Emissions data from select area source categories in
Mecklenburg County are displayed in the graph below.
2012 Area Source
Emissions
Pollutant
Tons/Year
CO
2,151
NOx
1,764
PM2.5
Data provided in part by North Carolina Department Environment and Natural Resources (NCDENR).
Data for Gasoline Stations is from the 2012 Mecklenburg County Air Emissions Inventory.
SO2
1,129
VOC
10,450
Total
16,282
What you can do to help reduce area source pollution in Mecklenburg County
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Minimize use of fireplaces, fire pits and open burning as these activities generate SO2, PM, NOx, VOC and CO.
Minimize use of commercially available VOC containing solvents and paints. You can switch to “green”
alternatives to minimize VOC emissions.
Minimize dispensing of gasoline into portable containers to minimize VOC emissions.
More information
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789
EPA Area Source Standards
Scorecard - The Pollution Information Site
Area–wide Source Categories - California Air Resources Board (CARB)
Sources of Air Pollution - Area Sources Texas Commission on Environmental Quality
What are Point, Area and Mobile Sources? - New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection
Helping you breathe easy … for life
Mecklenburg County Air Quality • 700 North Tryon Street • Charlotte, NC 28202 • 704.336.5430
http://airquality.charmeck.org