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Summer Smog Season Begins Today

Release Date: 05/01/2002
Contact Information: Andrew Spejewski, EPA Press Office, 617/918-1014

BOSTON – The onset of warm weather means New Englanders should be aware of the increased risk of ground-level ozone (smog) pollution, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced today. In fact, unhealthy readings have already been recorded in parts of Rhode Island during the unusually hot period last month. Fortunately, there are many steps that people can take to reduce pollution and protect their health.

Throughout the summer, whenever ground-level ozone concentrations are predicted to exceed the national health standard in areas in New England, EPA and the states will announce that the following day will be an "Ozone Action Day" in these areas. EPA asks that on Ozone Action Days, citizens and businesses take special care to help reduce air pollution and protect the public health. Citizens can help reduce ozone-smog by taking the following actions:

• use public transportation or walk whenever possible;
• if you must drive, go in car pools and combine trips;
• go to the gas station at night to cut down on gasoline vapors getting into the air during daylight hours when the sun can cook the vapors and form ozone;
• use less electricity - turn air conditioning to a higher temperature setting, turn out lights and computers when you're not using them;
• avoid using gasoline-powered engines, such as lawn mowers, chain saws and leaf blowers on unhealthy air days.

In order to help New England residents prepare for poor air quality this summer, EPA and the New England states will provide smog forecasts and real-time animations of ozone beginning May 1. These forecasts and real-time animations are available at https://www.epa.gov/region01/aqi. People can also sign up at this web address to receive "Smog Alerts."

Smog Alert is a free service, provided by EPA in cooperation with the New England states, that automatically notifies participants by e-mail or fax when high concentrations of ground-level ozone are predicted in their area. Smog Alerts are issued throughout the summer smog season, May through September.

Poor air quality affects everyone, but some people are particularly sensitive to ozone, including children and adults who are active outdoors, and people with respiratory diseases, such as asthma. Exposure to elevated ozone levels can cause serious breathing problems, aggravate asthma and other pre-existing lung diseases and make people more susceptible to respiratory infection. When elevated ozone levels are expected, EPA recommends that people limit strenuous outdoor activity during the afternoon and early evening hours, when ozone levels are highest.

Ground-level ozone, the main ingredient of smog, is formed when volatile organic compounds and oxides of nitrogen interact in the presence of sunlight. Ground-level ozone should not be confused with ozone in the "ozone layer" 10 to 30 miles above the earth, which protects us from the sun's harmful ultraviolet rays.

Ground level ozone is unhealthy when average concentrations exceed 0.08 parts per million over an eight-hour period. The federal Clean Air Act has led to significant improvements in air quality over the past 20 years. In 2001, New England had 32 unhealthy days, compared to 90 unhealthy days in 1983.

In order to call attention to this issue, states in the Northeast have declared the week beginning May 21 as Ozone Awareness Week. In addition, May 7 is World Asthma Day. EPA is joining with other Federal and non-profit organizations to sponsor asthma education events around the country during May to raise awareness about the indoor and outdoor pollutants that trigger asthma episodes, and how to avoid them as part of a comprehensive asthma management plan.

Cars, trucks and buses are a primary source of the pollutants that make smog. Fossil fuel burning at electric power plants, particularly on hot days, also generates significant smog-forming pollution. Gas stations, print shops, household products like paints and cleaners, as well as lawn and garden equipment, also contribute to smog formation.

EPA has taken a number of steps to reduce air pollution from these sources and improve air quality. Beginning in 2004, tougher tailpipe emission standards for cars and light-duty trucks, including sport utility vehicles, and limits on the amount of sulfur in gasoline will result in dramatically cleaner vehicles. In addition, EPA has taken aggressive steps to reduce pollution from power plants upwind of New England. EPA is requiring 21 eastern states and the District of Columbia to reduce nitrogen oxides by approximately one million tons by 2004.