Overview
Emmetsburg, Iowa Lakes Community College is an operational air monitoring station in Iowa, United States, managed by the University Hygienic Laboratory. It contributes to ambient air quality surveillance under the US EPA AQS network.
Emmetsburg, Iowa Lakes Community College is an air monitoring station located on the campus of Iowa Lakes Community College in Emmetsburg, Palo Alto County, Iowa. Operated by the University Hygienic Laboratory (University of Iowa), the station is part of the broader US EPA Air Quality System (AQS) monitoring network, which tracks criteria pollutants and other atmospheric parameters across the United States. The station reports data to the University Hygienic Laboratory, a key partner in Iowa's ambient air monitoring program. While specific parameters measured are not detailed, typical stations in this network monitor ozone, particulate matter (PM2.5 and PM10), sulfur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, carbon monoxide, and lead. The station's last reported sample date is October 31, 2025, indicating ongoing operations. Located in a rural area of north-central Iowa, the station provides valuable air quality data for a region characterized by agricultural activities and small urban centers. Its siting supports the EPA's objective of assessing regional background air quality and potential impacts from local sources. The data contributes to public health assessments and regulatory compliance under the Clean Air Act.
Environmental context
The station's location in rural Iowa offers a representative baseline for agricultural air quality, influenced by crop dusting, livestock operations, and seasonal biomass burning. Monitoring in such settings helps differentiate local emissions from transported pollutants. The University Hygienic Laboratory's involvement ensures quality assurance and data continuity, supporting both state and federal air quality management goals.
Frequently asked questions
The station is located on the campus of Iowa Lakes Community College in Emmetsburg, Palo Alto County, Iowa, United States.
Typical US EPA AQS stations measure criteria pollutants such as ozone, particulate matter, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, carbon monoxide, and lead.
The station is operated by the University Hygienic Laboratory (University of Iowa), which serves as the reporting agency for air quality data in Iowa.
The station operates under the US EPA Air Quality System (AQS) network, which implements the Clean Air Act and National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for criteria pollutants.
Rural monitoring helps assess background air quality, detect agricultural emissions, and evaluate long-range transport of pollutants, supporting public health and environmental policy.
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