Hot Weather Means Poor Air Quality Predicted for parts of New England Tomorrow and Saturday
(Boston, Mass. – July 12, 2012) – Unhealthy air quality is predicted for Friday, July 13, in western Connecticut, southwestern through northeastern Massachusetts, southeastern New Hampshire and along the coast of Maine from Kittery through Acadia National Park. Heat-related poor air quality is expected to continue through Saturday, July 14.
“With warmer air and increased humidity over the next few days, our air models are anticipating unhealthy air quality in parts of New England,” said Curt Spalding, regional administrator of EPA’s New England office. “Everybody can help reduce smog-forming emissions by driving less, by using public transportation and by setting air conditioner thermostats a few degrees higher.”
Ground-level ozone forms when volatile organic compounds and oxides of nitrogen (ozone precursors) interact in the presence of strong sunlight. Cars, trucks and buses give off the majority of the pollution that creates ozone. Fossil fuel burning at electric generating units, particularly on hot days, also emits ozone precursors. Gasoline stations, print shops, household products like paints and cleaners, as well as lawn and garden equipment also add significantly to the ozone problem.
Exposure to elevated ozone levels can cause breathing problems, aggravate asthma and other pre-existing lung diseases, and make people more susceptible to respiratory infection. When ozone levels are elevated, people should refrain from strenuous outdoor activity, especially sensitive populations such as children and adults with respiratory problems.
When ozone is forecast to be unhealthy, EPA asks the public to take action. The public can help reduce ozone by:
- Using public transportation, car pooling and/or combining trips;
- Avoiding the use of small gasoline powered engines, such as lawn mowers and tractors, chain saws, power washers, string trimmers and leaf blowers.
The ozone standard is 0.075 parts per million (ppm) on an 8-hour average basis. Air quality alerts are issued when ozone concentrations exceed, or are predicted to exceed, this level. So far this year, there have been 12 days in New England when ozone concentrations have exceeded the standard. (A preliminary list of this summer’s unhealthy readings can be found at )