Ozone Health Guidelines

Ground-level ozone is an air pollutant. While ozone in the upper atmosphere protects us from the sun's rays, at ground level it is a harmful lung irritant.

Like the weather, ozone concentrations change from day to day and even hour to hour. The highest concentrations commonly occur in the afternoon and early-evening hours on hot, sunny days.

Ozone affects everyone, but some people are more sensitive to its impacts than others. People with existing respiratory problems such as asthma, bronchitis and emphysema are more likely to be affected. Even healthy people may feel the impacts of ozone when they are outdoors working, playing or exercising and breathing ozone more deeply into their lungs.

Children are particularly vulnerable because they spend time outdoors playing vigorously, their lungs are still developing, and pound for pound, they breathe in more air than do adults.

The health effects linked to increased ozone concentrations vary among individuals but may include: coughing; nose, and throat irritation; chest pain; aggravation of asthma; shortness of breath; increased.

susceptibility to respiratory infection; decreased lung function; and other respiratory ailments.

The Department of Environmental Protection provides air quality ratings for ozone each day from May through September using the color categories and Air Quality Index numbers shown below. A higher Air Quality Index number within the categories reflects a higher level of risk.



Posted by: Tyler    Source