Protecting
yourself from
ozone smog
pollution
O pp/v
Summer 1999 R^,-.., > k i ^r,^
US Environmental Protection Agency
Region I, New England
# EPA90VF-99-001
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WHAT IS OZONE?
Ozone is o gas that con be found in the air
we breathe. It can be both beneficial or
harmful depending on its location in the
atmosphere.
WHERE IS OZONE FOUND?
In the earth's upper atmosphere, the
stratosphere, ozone shields the earth from
the sun's ultraviolet rays. In the earth's
lower atmosphere, the troposphere, it is
called ground-level ozone and is a harmful
air pollutant, the primary ingredient of
smog.
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HOW DOES OZONE AFFECT YOUR HEALTH?
High concentrations of
ozone near ground level
con be harmful to people,
animals, crops and other
materials. Ground-level
ozone can cause shortness
of breath, chest pains,
coughing, wheezing,
headaches, nausea, and
eye and throat irritation. People who suffer
from lung diseases such as emphysema,
bronchitis, pneumonia, or asthma con have
even more trouble breathing when the air is
polluted.
WHO IS MOST AT RISK FROM OZONE
POLLUTION?
Four groups of people are particularly
sensitive to ozone: 1) Children who are
active outdoors;
2) Healthy
adults who exert
themselves
outdoors; 3)
People with
respiratory
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diseases such as asthma; and 4)
Healthy people with unusual
susceptibility to ozone who experience
more health effects then the overage
person.
During ozone alerts, adults with
respiratory problems should avoid
outdoor activities. Even healthy adults
can suffer from high ozone levels during
strenuous outdoor work or recreation.
Children breathe even more air per
pound of body weight than adults,
therefore,
they are more
susceptible to
ozone.
Ozone
aggravates
symptoms of
asthma in
children and adults. Children make up
25 percent of the population and
comprise 40 percent of the asthma
coses. Fourteen Americans die every
day from asthma.
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- HOW CAN YOU
" 'I I >*/'
LEARN MOKE ABOUT
OZONE LEVELS?
I
The US Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA) and state agencies
hove been developing a number of tools to
provide information on local ozone levels,
its potential health effects, and suggested
activities for reducing ozone air pollution.
If you are interested in seeing an ozone
map, which uses color contours to show
ozone concentrations in your area, you can
access this data at: www.epa.gov/airnow.
In the New England region, high ozone
levels usually occur between 1:00 p.m. and
7:00 p.m. from May through September. A
daily ozone forecast for New England is
available at the US EPA Region I web site:
www.epo.gov/region01/oms.
Citizens can sign up at the web address or
call EPA's toll-free Air Quality Hotline at
1.800.821.1237 to receive smog alerts. Smog
Alert is a free service provided by EPA which
automatically notifies you by e-mail when
high concentrations of ground-level ozone
are predicted in your area.
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WHAT CAN YOU DO TO REDUCE OZONE
LEVELS?
You con take a number of steps to help
prevent ozone concentrations from reaching
unhealthy levels:
© Avoid using gasoline powered engines,
such as lawn mowers, chain saws, and leaf
blowers on unhealthy air days.
© Tune-up your car, drive less, walk, ride a
bike, use mass
transit or carpool. /r j
D
@ Properly inflate I . .
your car's tires and
check to make sure the wheels are aligned.
© Do not spill gasoline when filling the tank
of your cor or lawnmower.
© Fill your gas tank during the cooler evening
hours on unhealthy air days.
© Tightly seal the lids of chemicals you use,
such as solvents, garden chemicals, household
cleaners.
© Use less electricity at home and work.
Remember, minor lifestyle changes con result
in major air quality improvements.
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