The Regional Air Quality Council (RAQC) is
asking citizens to “chill” this summer and modify day-to-day behavior to
help reduce ground-level ozone pollution.
During the summer months
hot and stagnant air leads to increases in ground-level ozone pollution, which is formed when emissions from everyday items combine with other pollutants and “cook” in the heat and sunlight. Sources of such emissions include local industry, oil and gas production, gasoline-powered vehicles and lawn equipment and household paints, stains and solvents.
Weather plays a key role in ozone formation. The
highest ozone levels are usually recorded when temperatures approach the high 80s and 90s and when the wind is stagnant or light.
While weather conditions are uncontrollable, you can limit ozone formation by “chilling out” and
avoiding activities – such as mowing the lawn or running errands – on hot summer days. Here are a few clean air tips that will allow all of us to breathe easier this summer:
·
Inflate your vehicle’s tires – this can
improve your gas mileage by over three percent· Check your
vehicle’s air filter – replacing a dirty air filter can
improve your gas mileage by up to 10 percent·
Carpool to work – it can
save you between $500 and $2,200 each year·
Recycle your old lawn mower – operating a
pre-1997 mower for an hour pollutes as much as driving from Denver to Fort CollinsAt ground level,
ozone pollution is harmful to all of us –
especially the young and the elderly. Ozone can trigger attacks and symptoms in individuals with pre-existing health conditions, such as asthma and respiratory infections. High levels of ozone pollution can even
affect healthy people who work or exercise outdoors.Denver’s
ozone season runs from June through August. During this time, the RAQC will work with multiple partners to increase awareness of ozone in the metropolitan-Denver region. Help take care of our summer air by taking the pledge to “chill” this summer. Visit
www.OzoneAware.org.
By participating in these simple ozone reduction strategies, y
ou can help keep the metropolitan-Denver region a healthy and clean city in which to live, work and play.
To find out about current air quality conditions, visit
www.OzoneAware.org or call the
24-hour hotline at 303-758-4848.
For more information, contact Sara O’Keefe, RAQC, at sokeefe@raqc.org or 303-629-5450, ext. 220.