|
What is Ozone?
Ozone is found two places – in our stratosphere (12 to 15 miles above the
Earth’s surface), where it prevents harmful ultraviolet radiation from reaching
the earth, and at ground-level, where it combines with other elements to produce
smog. Stratospheric ozone is sometimes referred to as "good ozone," while
ground-level ozone is known as "bad ozone" for its adverse impact on our air
quality.
Ozone Action Days
Ozone Action Days are declared on hot, sunny, still days when conditions are
most favorable for the accumulation of unhealthy levels of ground-level ozone.
Forecasters at the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) make their
forecasts
a day in advance. Ozone Action Days are forecasted for many of Texas’
larger urban areas – Austin, Beaumont-Port Arthur, Corpus Christi, Dallas-Fort
Worth (where it's called an "Air Pollution Watch"), El Paso,
Houston-Galveston-Brazoria (where it's called an "Ozone Watch"), San Antonio
(where it's called an "Air Quality Health Alert") and Tyler-Longview-Marshall.
What are the Effects of Ozone Pollution?
Exposure to high concentrations of ground-level can cause a variety of
respiratory (breathing) problems. Ozone pollution aggravates asthma and can
cause respiratory infections. Ozone pollution adversely impacts plant life,
reducing crop yields and killing trees.
Why is it Important to take "Action" on Ozone Action Days?
Besides the adverse effects of ozone pollution, high levels of ground-level
ozone can violate federal air quality standards. Violating these standards can
lead to a variety of sanctions. More expensive, reformulated gasoline can be
required. Federal highway funds can be withheld, making it more difficult to
improve transportation. Emissions inspections can be required for personal
vehicles. Cars and trucks can become more expensive because of new emissions
equipment.
Ten things you can do on Ozone Action Days
- Share a ride to work or school.
- Avoid drive-through lanes.
- Avoid morning rush-hour traffic.
- Postpone refueling until after 6 p.m.
- Walk or ride a bicycle.
- Don't top off your gas tank when refueling.
- Combine errands into one trip.
- Take your lunch to work or school.
- Keep your vehicle properly tuned to keep exhaust levels low.
- Postpone using gasoline engines like lawnmowers until after 6 p.m.
Here's another thing you can do...
When you see a vehicle with dirty smoke coming from its exhaust for more than
10 consecutive seconds, get the license plate number and call (800) 453-SMOG.
That's the hotline for the
TCEQ's Smoking
Vehicle Program.
You will be asked for:
- the license plate number
- the date
- the time
- and the location where you saw the smoking vehicle.
You do not have to give your name, and the call is free. The TCEQ will then notify the owner that his or her vehicle may
be contributing to air pollution by smoking excessively and provide the owner
with information about how to improve the vehicle's performance.
Things to check in keeping your car maintained properly are: dirty
carburetors, clogged air filters, and worn points and plugs that waste gasoline.
These cause increased emissions of carbon monoxide and nitrogen oxides.
Smog City Smog City
is an interactive teaching tool that shows how the variables of heat, sunlight,
population and pollution levels interact to create ground-level ozone.
Related Links:
|
