Air Trends
Design Values
A design value is a statistic that describes the air quality status of a given area relative to the level of the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS). Design values are especially helpful when the standard is exceedance-based (e.g. 1-hour ozone, 24-hour PM10, etc.) because they are expressed as a concentration instead of an exceedance count, thereby allowing a direct comparison to the level of the standard.
- Design values are defined in the guidance below and are consistent with the NAAQS in CFR Part 50. As such, they are often based on multiple years of data, ensuring a stable indicator.
- Design values are typically used to classify nonattainment areas, assess progress towards meeting the NAAQS, and develop control strategies.
- Design values are computed and published annually by EPA's Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards and reviewed in conjunction with the EPA Regional Offices.
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Design Values 2008 - 2010
- PM2.5 Design Values
(Excel spreadsheet) (1.59 MB) - Detailed Information (updated January 11, 2012)
- PM10 Design Values
(Excel spreadsheet) (196k) - Detailed Information (updated January 11, 2012)
- Ozone Design Values
(Excel spreadsheet) (550k) - Detailed Information (updated January 6, 2012)
- Carbon Monoxide Design Values
(Excel spreadsheet) (89k) - Detailed Information
- Sulfur Dioxide Design Values
(Excel spreadsheet) (169k) - Detailed Information (updated January 10, 2012)
- Nitrogen Dioxide Design Values
(Excel spreadsheet) (90k) - Detailed Information (updated January 6, 2012)
- Lead Design Values
(Excel spreadsheet) (138k) - Detailed Information (updated August 10, 2011)
Design Values 2007 - 2009
- PM2.5 Design Values (updated March 17, 2011)
(PDF) (5pp, 78k) - Summary
(Excel spreadsheet) (2.4 MB) - Detailed Information
- PM10 Design Values
(PDF) (5pp, 87k) - Summary
(Excel spreadsheet) (502k) - Detailed Information (updated June 9, 2011)
- Ozone Design Values
(PDF) (7pp, 130k) - Summary (updated Table1 on December 3, 2010)
(Excel spreadsheet) (849k) - Detailed Information (updated column headings in Table 5 on November 10, 2010 and Table 1 on December 3, 2010)
- Carbon Monoxide Design Values
(PDF) (3pp, 32k) - Summary
(Excel spreadsheet) (239k) - Detailed Information
- Sulfur Dioxide Design Values
(PDF) (5pp, 29k) - Summary
(Excel spreadsheet) (320k) - Detailed Information
- Nitrogen Dioxide Design Values
(PDF) (2pp, 23k) - Summary
(Excel spreadsheet) (170k) - Detailed Information
- Lead Design Values
(PDF) (3pp, 72k) - Summary
(Excel spreadsheet) (267k) - Detailed Information
Design Values 2006 - 2008
- PM2.5 Design Values
Changes to the treatment of PM2.5 data affected by exceptional events since the preparation of the two files posted here may mean that some PM2.5 design values in these files are no longer correct. Updates are being prepared.
(PDF) (7pp, 155k) - Summary
(Excel spreadsheet) (12.9 MB) - Detailed Information (Contains Design Values from 1999-2001 to 2006-2008)
- PM10 Design Values
(PDF) (9pp, 212k) - Summary
(Excel spreadsheet) (478k) - Detailed Information
- Ozone Design Values
(PDF) (7pp, 176k) - Summary
(Excel spreadsheet) (1.0 MB) - Detailed Information
- Carbon Monoxide Design Values
(PDF) (5pp, 92k) - Summary
(Excel spreadsheet) (160k) - Detailed Information
- Sulfur Dioxide Design Values
(PDF) (5pp, 75k) - Summary
(Excel spreadsheet) (186k) - Detailed Information
- Nitrogen Dioxide Design Values
(PDF) (2pp, 26k) - Summary
(Excel spreadsheet) (128k) - Detailed Information
- Lead Design Values
(PDF) (7pp, 177k) - Summary
(Excel spreadsheet) (373k) - Detailed Information (revised May 17, 2010)
Design Values 2005 - 2007
- PM2.5 Design Values (as of January 13, 2009)
(PDF) (5pp, 301k) - Summary
(Excel spreadsheet) (11.6 MB) - Detailed Information (Contains Design Values from 1999-2001 to 2005-2007)
- PM10 Design Values
(PDF) (8pp, 231k) - Summary
(Excel spreadsheet) (454k) - Detailed Information
- Ozone Design Values
(PDF) (5pp, 114k) - Summary
(Excel spreadsheet) (662k) - Detailed Information
- Carbon Monoxide Design Values
(PDF) (4pp, 96k) - Summary
(Excel spreadsheet) (123k) - Detailed Information
- Sulfur Dioxide Design Values
(PDF) (4pp, 84k) - Summary
(Excel spreadsheet) (180k) - Detailed Information
- Nitrogen Dioxide Design Values
(PDF) (3pp, 33k) - Summary
(Excel spreadsheet) (133k) - Detailed Information
- Lead Design Values
(PDF) (5pp, 101k) - Summary
(Excel spreadsheet) (159k) - Detailed Information
Design Values 2004 - 2006
- PM10 Design Values
(PDF) (4pp, 180k) - Summary
(Excel spreadsheet) (45k) - Detailed Information
- Ozone Design Values
(PDF) (5pp, 86k) - Summary
(Excel spreadsheet) (738k) - Detailed Information
- Carbon Monoxide Design Values
(PDF) (4pp, 44k) - Summary
(Excel spreadsheet) (28k) - Detailed Information
Design Values 2003 - 2005
- PM10 Design Values
(PDF) (4pp, 34k) - Summary
(Excel spreadsheet) (43k) - Detailed Information
- Ozone Design Values
(PDF) (9pp, 71k) - Summary
(Excel spreadsheet) (564k) - Detailed Information
For more information:
- Guideline on Data Handling Conventions for the 8-hour Ozone NAAQS (PDF) (17pp, 52k) EPA-454/R-98-017, Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC, December 1998.
- Guideline on Data Handling Conventions for the PM NAAQS (PDF) (55pp, 248k) EPA-454/R-99-008, Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC, April 1999.
- Memo on how to calculate the 8-hour Design Values by W. Laxton on June 18, 1990