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What Is Ozone?
Daily Info on O3 Levels and Hotlines
Air Quality Index
10 Steps to Reduce Ozone
Health
Exercise and Ozone
Special Alert for People with Asthma
Automobiles and Ozone
Ground-level ozone, the main ingredient in smog that can cause damage to your lungs, is a significant health problem in many Midwest cities during the summer months. Several cities have organized Ozone Action Day programs in which citizens, businesses, local, State and Federal governments, and health and environmental organizations are asked to take voluntary actions to help reduce ozone forming emissions on Ozone Action Days. An Ozone Action Day will be called when weather forecasters have predicted that conditions will be conducive to the formation of ozone. Ozone is sometimes chemically abbreviated as O3.
What
is Ozone?
The ozone layer, miles above the surface of the earth, protects
us from cancer causing solar ultraviolet radiation. But ground level ozone
damages our lung tissue. This harmful ozone is formed through a complex chemical
reaction involving hydrocarbons, nitrogen oxides and sunlight on calm summer
days. People who live in Milwaukee, Chicago, Gary, and their suburbs are affected
by a severe ozone air pollution problem. Several other areas in
the Midwest - Detroit, Cincinnati, Toledo, Dayton, Indianapolis, St. Louis,
and Louisville - also have a significant ozone problem.
Ozone causes shortness of breath, coughing, wheezing, and eye and nose irritation. It is especially dangerous to older adults, children, asthmatics and persons with other chronic respiratory ailments. While most people think of industry as the main source for air pollution, the fact is that approximately HALF of the hydrocarbons emitted come from actions of ordinary citizens as we drive our cars, maintain our homes and use a variety of volatile chemicals.
Daily Information on Ozone Levels
Media: Ozone Action Days will be announced
during weather forecasts on radio and television. An Ozone Action Day
will be called when State weather forecasters predict that weather conditions
will be conducive for the formation of ozone. Newspapers may also have
announcements in their weather sections.
Hotlines: Air quality hotlines have been set up to provide
access to daily ozone levels in most areas:
The six county Chicago area: (708) 865-6320
The City of Chicago only: (312) 744-4365
Southwest Illinois: (618) 257-6265
Southeastern Wisconsin: (866) DAILY AIR (324-5924)
Southeast Michigan: (800) 663-3247
West Michigan: 800-656-0663
Indianapolis: (317) 327-4AIR (327-4247)
Cleveland: (800) 394-7623
Cincinnati: (800) 621-7664
Dayton: (937) 222-3222
Toledo: (419) 936-3015
The
Ozone Mapping Project: Real-time
data from over 400 monitoring sites in the Eastern and Midwestern
States, providing a picture of ozone levels throughout the day. Color-coded,
still and animated maps of 1-hour average concentrations, daily
peak concentrations, and next day forecasts.
Below
are links to other Web sites that may have useful information
about the events listed. These links are provided for convenience
only and no endorsement by EPA is intended. By visiting these
non-EPA sites, you leave the domain of EPA and assume the responsibility
for any aspect of these sites and for information that you
use from these sites. Information contained on these sites
can in no way be assumed to replace EPA guidance or policies.  |
Many areas have established websites to provide daily ozone levels:
Air Quality Index (AQI):
In large metropolitan areas, the U.S.
EPA.
now requires that ozone and other air pollutant levels be reported
in terms of the Air Quality Index or AQI (formerly
the Pollution Standard Index). The AQI is an air quality indicator
developed by the U.S. EPA. to provide uniform and easily understandable
information about the daily levels of air pollution. The AQI
is reported as a percentage of the federal health standard. An
AQI reading between 101 and 150 is considered unhealthy for sensitive
groups such as children, asthmatics and people with existing
respiratory ailments, and these groups should limit strenuous
outdoor activities under these conditions. AQI readings greater
than 150 are considered generally unhealthy, and it is recommended
that even otherwise healthy people should consider limiting strenuous
outdoor activities.nbsp;
The following table provides a list of the ranges and colors for the Air Quality Index and the related description of general health effects for each range:
AQI Category Index Values, Descriptors, and Colors
Index Values |
Descriptor |
Color |
|---|---|---|
0 - 50 |
Good |
Green |
51 - 100 |
Moderate |
Yellow |
101 - 150 |
Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups |
Orange |
151 - 200 |
Unhealthy |
Red |
201 - 300 |
Very Unhealthy |
Purple |
301 - 500 |
Hazardous |
Maroon
|
Voluntary Actions - 10 Steps You Can Take: On an Ozone Action Day use this list and help reduce your contribution to ozone formation.
Travel Tips -
- Limit driving. Defer errands or share a ride. For short trips, walk or ride abike.
- If you drive, avoid excessive idling or jack-rabbit starts.
- Take transit. Ride the bus or train to work, school, or shopping.
- Don't Refuel on an Ozone Action Day. If you must refuel, do so after 7 pm.
- Avoid using gasoline powered equipment, such as outboard motors and off-road vehicles.
Home Tips -
- Defer mowing your lawn until late evening or the next day. Also, avoid usingother gasoline-powered garden equipment.
- Postpone using oil-based paints, solvents, or varnishes.
- Use an electric starter or charcoal chimney rather than lighter fluid.
- Defer use of household consumer products that release fumes or evaporateeasily.
- Conserve energy to reduce energy needs from power plants.
If each of us does our part to care for our air,we'll all breathe a little easier.
- The level of ozone found in the air in Cities along the southeastern and western shore of Lake Michigan (Milwaukee, Chicago, and Gary) during warm weather months (May through September) frequently exceeds standards considered safe to human health.
- Ozone reacts with lung tissue and can inflame and cause harmful changes in breathing passages, decreasing the lung's working ability. Symptoms can include shortness of breath, pain when inhaling deeply, wheezing and coughing.
- All of us are susceptible to the adverse health effects of ozone. Consequently, ozone is a regulated pollutant for which U.S. EPA has established air quality standards at levels considered safe for most people.
- People with existing lung disease (e.g.. asthma, chronic bronchitis, and emphysema) already suffer from reduced lung function. Aggravated respiratory symptoms from exposure to ozone may further impair the ability of these individuals to perform normal activities and can result in increased summertime hospital admissions, emergency department visits, and even death.
- We can protect ourselves when ozone levels are high by avoiding physical exertion between 11:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m., and whenever possible, by limiting all outdoor activities. Watch for pollution reports in the media to determine those days when caution should be taken.
- Exercise makes us even more
vulnerable to lung damage from ozone.
We breath more air during exercise or strenuous work. We draw air more deeply into our lungs. And when we exercise heavily, we breathe mostly through the mouth, bypassing the body's first line of defense against pollution - the nose. - People who are already especially vulnerable to ozone are even more vulnerable when exercising or engaging in strenuous work. These people include: children; asthmatics, those with heart and lung disease; and the elderly.
- Children are especially vulnerable to ozone pollution during exercise because they breathe more and faster than adults; are more likely to play outdoors during the midday when ozone levels are highest; and their lungs are still developing.
- Exposure to ozone pollution can be minimized by exercising before 11:00 a.m. or after 8 p.m. Since sunlight and time are necessary for ozone formation, the highest levels typically occur during the afternoon.
- Bicycle transportation is a
great alternative to driving a car. The environment benefits
because there are zero emissions from bicycles. The rider benefits
from increased exercise. HOWEVER, for all of the reasons just
mentioned, the benefits to riders can be significantly reduced
during the afternoon on days when the ozone levels are high.
See the section for the air quality hotline numbers to call
when you
plan to spend the midday bicycling.
Special Alert for People with Asthma
- Ground-level ozone (smog) can irritate your lungs and throat, causing symptoms suchas coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath and chest pain.
- Every one who works, plays or spends time outdoors; even the healthiest of people. However, these effects are very dangerous for people with asthma, children and the elderly.
- Ozone can aggravate asthma, causing more asthma attacks, increased use of medication, more medical treatment and more visits to hospital emergency rooms.
- Asthma is one of the leading causes of childhood hospital admissions.
- Children are more susceptible to the effects of smog because:
- Pound for pound, children breathe more air (and ozone) than adults.
- Children spend more time outdoors than adults.
- Children's respiratory systems are still developing.
- Ozone presents an increased risk to the elderly because it can aggravate pre-existing respiratory diseases.
- The elderly experience reduced sensitivity to symptoms of ozone; therefore, early warning signs of the harmful effects of ozone may be ignored.
- Individuals with asthma and other respiratory diseases should be aware that on high ozone days they are more susceptible to asthma attacks.
- Ozone Action Days are called when weather forecasters predict weather conditions that are likely to cause high ozone.
- People at risk should try to limit their time outdoors, on high ozone days in order to reduce the risk of exposure to ozone. Stay in well ventilated or air conditioned building.
- If at anytime, you experience symptoms such as tightness in the chest, coughing, wheezing and shortness of breath, contact your doctor or local clinic immediately.
Automobiles create more polluted air than any other source. Although technology has significantly reduced auto emissions, dramatic increases in the number of vehicle miles traveled has overwhelmed the advances.
Automobile emissions occur in three stages:- Cold Starts: This state lasts only one to two minutes after starting the engine. Fifty percent of ozone forming emissions occur during the first one or two minutes after starting. Therefore, reducing the number of trips you take is often more important than reducing the distance you travel.
- Running Exhaust: Running emissions occur after the engine has warmed up. Emissions per mile traveled are higher when moving in congested traffic. However, running emissions are usually responsible for well under half of all emissions during a trip.
- Hot Soak: This
is the cool down period after a trip is over. Gas still in
the carburetor and the fuel system boils off after the engine
is turned off.
- Drive Less. Combine trips, walk, bike, share a ride, or use public transit. Call (312) 793-RIDE for rideshare information.
- Drive Carefully: Avoid excess idling, accelerate slowly.
- Refuel Thoughtfully: Refuel after 7 p.m. Don't top off the gas tank.
- Keep Your Auto Well-Maintained: Have your engine and emissions control equipment inspected annually, keep your auto tuned-up, and the tires properly inflated.