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News Release 182
OZONE SEASON BEGINS IN MISSOURI
Volume 36-182 |
Contact: Renee Bungart |
(For immediate release) |
573-751-4465 |
JEFFERSON CITY, MO, APRIL 2, 2008 -- As the 2008 ozone season begins, the Missouri Department of Natural Resources would like to remind citizens that everyone has a role in protecting air quality. Simple steps taken everyday can help reduce the emission of harmful pollutants that contribute to the formation of ground-level ozone.
Historically, ozone has been a problem in heavily populated, urban areas such as Kansas City and St. Louis, where monitoring values have hovered at or just above the health-based ozone standard. However, recent revisions to the National Ambient Air Quality Standards for ozone place all but one Missouri monitor in violation of the new standard. Therefore, making air conscious decisions are even more important for the upcoming ozone season.
Effectively reducing ozone precursors, such as oxides of nitrogen and volatile organic compounds, will be necessary to protect air quality in Missouri. That is why community-wide voluntary actions play a role in reducing air pollution. These voluntary efforts include industries using best management practices, homeowners and businesses delaying lawn maintenance and using mass transportation on high ozone days. These actions and others, like "stopping at the click" when refueling your vehicle or refueling in the later evening hours and early in the morning before the rush-hour, can reduce the formation of ground-level ozone. The fumes that escape during these activities play a major role in establishing the necessary conditions for ozone to form. Because exhaust emissions are greater during the rush-hours, any attempts to prevent emissions during these hours will make a difference.
"The department recognizes that maintaining good air quality can be attributed not only to the control measures that are already in place for industry but also to the voluntary efforts of Missouri citizens and partnerships committed to protecting community health," said Department of Natural Resources Director Doyle Childers. "As always, these efforts are much appreciated."
Ozone season begins April 1 and ends Oct. 31. Throughout the season, 20 monitors across Missouri record ground-level ozone levels. Ground-level ozone is produced when volatile organic compounds mix with oxides of nitrogen on warm, sunny days with little or no wind. Man-made sources of volatile organic compounds and oxides of nitrogen include power plants, automobiles and trucks and other business and industries.
Exposure to ground-level ozone, or smog, can attribute to health problems. Those who suffer from asthma, heart disease, emphysema and other respiratory diseases could experience increased breathing difficulty. Long-term exposure to high levels of ozone can even cause healthy adults, especially those who exercise or work outdoors, to experience breathing difficulty.
For more information on ozone, contact the department's Air Pollution Control Program at
800-361-4827 or 573-751-4817.
For news releases on the Web, visit www.dnr.mo.gov/newsrel. For a complete listing of the department's upcoming meetings, hearings and events, visit the department's online calendar at www.dnr.mo.gov/calendar/search.do.
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