From: davidhess@delphi.com
Newsgroups: pa.general
Subject: Summer Ozone Season, 8 Exceedences So Far
Date: Thu, 22 Jun 95 00:14:55 -0500
Organization: Delphi (info@delphi.com email, 800-695-4005 voice)
NNTP-Posting-Host: bos1b.delphi.com

SUMMER: A TIME FOR OZONE AWARENESS,
8 READINGS OVER HEALTH STANDARD ALREADY THIS YEAR
 
  HARRISBURG, Pa., June 21 -- Now that summer is here, it's
important to remember that hot and stagnant days provide ideal
weather conditions for the creation of ground-level ozone,
according to Environmental Resources Secretary James M. Seif.
  "Ground-level ozone forms when pollutants from motor vehicles,
paints and solvents, unburned fuel and industrial sources heat up
in hot sunny weather," Seif said.
  "We can all take some positive steps that don't require new
regulations or mandatory programs to help achieve cleaner,
healthier air."
  Seif said the following can be done voluntarily to reduce
certain ozone-producing activities:
  -- Consolidate trips and errands.
  -- Refuel carefully -- don't overfill gas tanks.
  -- Avoid prolonged vehicle idling.
  -- Drive smoothly -- avoid jack-rabbit starts/stops.
  -- Keep motor vehicles, boats, lawn mowers and other fuel-
burning equipment well maintained.
  -- Walk or bicycle for short trips.
  -- Operate gas-powered mowers during the evening.
  -- Car pool or use mass transportation.
  -- Use latex rather than oil-base paints, and avoid using
sprayers.
  -- Conserve energy by not overcooling your home.
  -- Avoid using charcoal lighter fluids.
  -- Operate dishwashers and washing machines with full loads.
  Ozone is an odorless, colorless gas produced when nitrogen
oxides and volatile organic compounds combine under hot weather
conditions. When it is high in the atmosphere (ozone layer),ozone
helps filter harmful ultra-violet rays.
  When ozone forms in the lower atmosphere where we breathe, it
can cause respiratory distress and in high concentrations can lead
to lung damage.  Peak levels generally occur between the hours of
3 and 7 p.m.
  The national health-based air quality standard for ground-level
ozone is 120 parts per billion (ppb).  Levels of up to 124 ppb are
acceptable because rounding off down to 120 is permitted.
  During the final three days of spring (June 18, 19 & 20), there
were eight areas in southeastern and southwestern Pennsylvania
where the ozone concentrations exceeded the health standard.
  The highest was 140 ppb in the Roxborough and Northeast sections
of Philadelphia.
  Pennsylvania has 35 monitoring stations throughout the state
that keep track of daily ozone concentrations.
  Children and the elderly are more at risk to the effects of
ground-level ozone.  Healthy adults exercising outdoors may
experience lung problems on high-ozone days.  Symptoms experienced
by those inhaling air with high concentrations of ground-level
ozone include chest pain, coughing, nausea, throat irritation, and
congestion.
  /CONTACT:  Christina Novak, Press Secretary of the Pennsylvania
Department of Environmental Resources, 717-787-1323/
11:44 EDT