Air Quality At Issue In Sweltering Summer

Thursday, August 16th 2007, 5:52 pm

By: News On 6

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- Calm winds combined with plenty of sunshine and high temperatures have been producing smoggy days in Oklahoma. Through Wednesday, Oklahoma's two largest metropolitan areas, Oklahoma City and Tulsa, had each exceeded federal standards for ozone, the chief component of smog, on two days this week, officials said. And Thursday was an ozone alert day in both cities, meaning smoggy conditions were expected.

But high ozone readings that are common during sweltering Oklahoma summers have not thrown the cities or any other part of the state out of compliance with federal ozone guidelines, authorities said.

"August is generally our worst month," said Jerry Church, spokesman for the Association of Central Oklahoma Governments. "If we don't have any more ozone for the rest of the year, we're actually in pretty good shape."

But officials said Oklahomans should still take steps to reduce ozone output during hot summer days to avoid the possibility of violating the standards -- an event that could trigger mandatory installation of fuel vapor recovery devices at gas stations and annual vehicle emissions inspections.

"People do not fully understand the ramifications," Church said.

In Oklahoma, ground-level ozone is a health and environmental concern from May to September. Ozone levels are constantly monitored in metropolitan areas and high levels are considered unhealthy for children, older adults and anyone prone to respiratory problems.

Ozone is formed by nitrogen oxides and volatile organic compounds mixing in intense sunlight, high temperatures and calm winds.

Vehicles and gasoline-powered engines are primary sources but industrial machinery, lawn and garden equipment, recreational boats, drying paint and charcoal grills can also produce the pollutants.

Dave Bary, a spokesman for the Environmental Protection Agency in Dallas, said Oklahoma City and Tulsa meet the current federal standard for ozone, which is 85 parts per billion in the atmosphere.

The three-year average from 2004 to 2006, which the EPA uses to determine compliance, was 81 ppb in Oklahoma City and 79 ppb in Tulsa, he said.

Violations of the standard would require the Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality to develop a clean air plan tailored specifically for each non-attainment area, Bary said.

"The sources of emission and the air quality problems in Tulsa are not exactly the same as in Oklahoma City," he said.

Ozone control measures could require industries to reduce emissions and force transportation improvements designed to cut down on slow or stalled traffic, Bary said. Annual vehicle emissions tests could also be required.

Although attaining the current standard, Oklahoma City and Tulsa would not comply with tougher standards that have been proposed by EPA.

In June, the agency proposed lowering the ozone standard to 70-75 ppb. The EPA is also accepting public comments on a proposal to reduce the standard to as low as 64, Bary said.

"There are still adverse public health effects at somewhere between 75 and 85 parts per billion of ozone," he said.

Hearings will be held across the nation thru September. A final decision is due March 12.

For more on Ozone and its affects on your health, click here.