Record-breaking Summer Temperatures Lead to Increases in Ozone Action Alerts
So what is an Ozone Action Alert and
what does it mean for air quality? An Ozone Action Alert is an air quality
forecast issued by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment on
hot summer days when conditions are ripe for the formation of ground-level
ozone. The alerts are meant to warn the public of the potentially harmful
conditions we face when emissions from vehicles, paints and solvents, lawn
mowers, and other sources mix under heat and sunlight to create ground-level
ozone. In addition, the Alerts serve as
a call-to-action, encouraging citizens to adopt simple behavior changes to
prevent ozone formation over the specified 24-hour period.
Although more Alerts have been
issued this year than in past years, it does not necessarily mean that air
quality is worse this year. It simply
means that record-breaking temperatures, abundant sunshine, and little moisture
or wind are the perfect conditions under which elevated levels of ozone can be
expected.
Ozone pollution can affect those
with pre-existing respiratory ailments as well as the young and elderly. Even healthy people who work or exercise
outdoors can experience eye irritation and difficulties with breathing when
exposed to high levels of ozone.
On these hot summer days it is
important for all of us to make simple changes in our daily lives and help take
care of our summer air:
· Refuel
your car after 5:00 p.m. and stop at the click, don’t top off your fuel tank
· Walk
to lunch and run errands after work
· Avoid
painting and staining projects in the heat of the day
· Wait
to mow your lawn until after 5:00 p.m.
· Avoid
idling your vehicle, just turn off the engine
These simple actions can make
significant impact if each and every one of us makes just a few small changes.
To learn more about what you can do
and to take the pledge to chill on hot summer days, visit http://pledge.ozoneaware.org.
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