Ozone Alert Season On the Horizon
It’s time once again for the Ozone Alert! Program. The weather is heating up, and that means that the ozone season has begun, although the program officially kicks off May 12.
Ozone Alert! is a voluntary program created to maintain clean air status. The program predicts days when atmospheric conditions may cause unhealthy levels of ozone and notifies citizens in advance so that the community can take voluntary measures to reduce ozone formation. Ozone Alert Days are typically days with a forecast of little wind, high temperatures and bright sun.
Ozone in the upper atmosphere (the stratosphere) is a protective layer around the earth that prevents too many ultraviolet rays from reaching the planet. (These rays can cause skin cancer.)
Ozone in the layer of the atmosphere next to the earth (the troposphere) is not so good. This layer of air pollution threatens our health, quality of life and economic prosperity. Ozone in this layer is created when sunlight causes a chemical reaction with various compounds produced by engines. Emissions + heat + sunlight = OZONE.
Ozone-induced health effects include asthma and other breathing problems for children, senior citizens, people who work or exercise outdoors, people with preexisting respiratory disease (asthma or COPD) and “responders” who are sensitive to ozone. Breathing air with high levels of ozone in it can cause: shortness of breath, chest pain when inhaling deeply, wheezing and coughing and respiratory infections.
To get ready for this year’s Ozone Alert! season, consider ways that you can reduce your use of gasoline powered engines, like your car, your motorcycle and your lawnmower or other gas-powered lawn tools.
Not only will you be helping the environment by reducing emissions that can create ozone, you will find that you save money, too!
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