Smog Reaches Unhealthy Levels throughout State

First Statewide Ozone Advisory in Three Years Issued

High Pollution Levels and Temperatures Underscore Need for Better Pollution Policies

(Albany, NY) — In a rare occurrence, ozone health advisories were simultaneously issued for all parts of New York State this week. Ozone Health Advisories issued by the New York Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) on Monday (7/1) and Tuesday (7/2) covered the entire state, including remote rural and mountainous areas. Today’s advisory covers New York City and Long Island.

Ozone health advisories, found at www.dec.state.ny.us/apps/ozone/Advise.cfm, warn New Yorkers of serious health risks on days with high ozone (smog) levels stating that, “people who exercise or work outdoors, and those with respiratory diseases (such as asthma), should consider limiting strenuous outdoor physical activity during the afternoon and early evening hours when ozone levels are the highest. Individuals experiencing symptoms (shortness of breath, chest pain or cough) should consider consulting their doctor.”

Air pollution, in the presence of heat and sunlight, forms ozone (O₃). Sources of the pollution that forms ozone (nitrogen oxides and volatile organic compounds) include all fuel combustion units, like vehicles, power plants, and other engines. Hot weather exacerbates the situation by leading to the formation of more ozone, and causing increased use of electricity, which results in more pollution.

“Days like today illustrate the need to solve two problems: global warming and air pollution,” stated Anne Reynolds of Environmental Advocates. “Capping carbon dioxide emissions will not only reduce the pollution that leads to global warming, but will cut down on the local pollution that directly leads to smog. Clearly New Yorker’s health protection deserves this improvement.”

An Ozone Health Advisory means that levels of ozone in the ambient air are forecast to reach levels high enough to pose a risk to human health according to standards set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. A concentration of ground level ozone, averaged over an 8-hour period, that surpasses 0.084 parts per million (ppm) is considered unhealthy. People with asthma and other respiratory illnesses are particularly at risk. An ozone health advisory simultaneously covering the entire state was last issued in summer 1999.

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