RALEIGH --- State air quality officials issued a health notice today for ozone smog in the Charlotte metropolitan area on Thursday. The N.C. Division of Air Quality has forecasted "code orange"ozone conditions, which means levels in Mecklenburg and surrounding counties are likely to be unhealthy for sensitive groups.
This forecast means that people who are sensitive to air pollution should limit prolonged, moderate exertion outdoors. Sensitive groups include the elderly, children who are active outside, people who work or exercise outdoors, and those with asthma, bronchitis, emphysema and other respiratory ailments.
Ozone, a highly reactive form of oxygen, is the primary pollutant in smog. It can be unhealthy to breathe, damage plants and reduce crop yields. High ozone levels generally occur on hot sunny days with stagnant air, when pollutants such as nitrogen oxides and hydrocarbons "cook" in the atmosphere.
The air pollution forecast for Friday predicts that ozone levels in the Charlotte area will exceed the new federal standard of 0.08 parts per million averaged over 8 hours. Ozone at code orange levels can mildly impair breathing and put extra strain on the heart in children and the elderly. These levels also can aggravate symptoms in people with respiratory problems and cause possible lung irritation in healthy individuals. People with existing heart or lung ailments, children and the elderly should reduce physical exertion and outdoor activity.
Ozone levels in the Triangle are not expected to top the standard. The division issued a "code yellow" forecast for the Triangle on Friday, which means ozone levels are likely to be unhealthy only for people who are highly sensitive to air pollution.
The Division of Air Quality issues daily ozone forecasts as part of its N.C. Air Awareness Program, a voluntary effort aimed at reducing ozone in the state's major metropolitan areas. As part of this program, the division is asking residents of Mecklenburg and surrounding counties to help reduce air pollution on high ozone days by taking some of the following actions:
Exceedances of the ozone standard will be much more frequent under the new, stricter standard that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency adopted in 1997 to protect public health and the environment. The Division of Air Quality estimates that more than half of North Carolina's citizens live in counties where ozone levels will violate the new standard.
For additional information on the ozone forecast, actions that you can take to reduce air pollution, or questions about ozone or the Air Awareness Program, please call 1-888-RU4NCAIR (1-888-784-6224). Or visit Division of Air Quality's web site at http://daq.state.nc.us.
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