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Ground-level Ozone Pollution

  • Reducing ozone pollution makes breathing easier.

Announcements
9/16/2022 - EPA issues final determinations as to whether certain areas have attained the 2008 or the 2015 ozone standards.  
 
10/29/2021 - EPA will Reconsider Previous Administration’s Decision to Retain 2015 Ozone Standards

Ozone can be “good” or “bad” for health and the environment depending on where it’s found in the atmosphere.

Stratospheric ozone is “good” because it protects living things from ultraviolet radiation from the sun.

Ground-level ozone, the topic of this website, is “bad” because it can trigger a variety of health problems.

EPA regulations help states reduce ozone levels in outdoor air. 

Learn more about ground-level ozone.

Ground-level Ozone Basics

  • What is “good” vs. “bad” ozone?
  • How does ground-level ozone form?
  • What are the harmful effects of ozone?
  • What is being done to reduce ozone pollution?

Setting and Reviewing the Standards

  • What are ozone standards?
  • How are they developed and reviewed?
  • What scientific and technical information supports reviews?

Implementing the Standards

  • How is an area designated attainment (meeting) or nonattainment (not meeting) the ozone standard?
  • How are the ozone standards implemented?
  • What are air quality implementation plans and how are they developed?
  • What are the Ozone VOC Exemptions?

Air Quality Where You Live

  • View current and forecasted air quality conditions across the U.S.
  • Explore current locations of wildfires
  • Review data from air quality monitors across the world

Visit AirNow.gov

Note: AirNow is experiencing extremely heavy traffic and may be slow. Visit an alternate map showing air quality from fires.

Other Common Air Pollutants

  • Particulate Matter (PM)
  • Carbon Monoxide (CO)
  • Lead (Pb)
  • Sulfur Dioxide (SO2)
  • Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2)

See information on all criteria pollutants .

Contact Us to ask a question, provide feedback, or report a problem.
Last updated on September 16, 2022
United States Environmental Protection Agency

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