May 14, 2008
Vol. 38, No. 220

For more information contact Terri Brixen, Air Quality Management, 302-323-4542, or Joanna Wilson, Public Affairs, 302-739-9902. PHOTOS AVAILABLE. 

2008 Ozone Season Kick-off Held
at Delaware Legislators’ Bike Ride

DOVER, Del. - As part of the Delaware Legislators’ Bike Ride, the Kick-off of Delaware’s 2008 Ozone Season was officially announced today on the steps of Legislative Hall. The announcement was made during Air Quality Awareness Week, May 11-17, to encourage Delawareans to learn more about the health impacts of ground-level ozone and actions that will help minimize ozone exposures and improve air quality.

Ground level ozone forms when high temperatures and sunlight combine with pollution from vehicles, industries and businesses. The highest levels of ozone occur between May and September on hot sunny days during the afternoon and early evening hours. Young children, seniors, people with asthma and those who work or exercise outdoors are most susceptible to the ill effects of ozone, which can damage the lungs and contribute to other respiratory problems.

“Bikes are very environmentally-friendly transportation – no tailpipe emissions that could contribute to ground-level ozone and zero carbon dioxide or other greenhouse gases that contribute to global warming,” said DNREC Secretary John A. Hughes. “Today’s Bike Ride is the perfect opportunity to encourage voluntary actions to reduce ground-level ozone, whenever possible – riding bikes, car pooling, using mass transit and other activities that reduce vehicle emissions.”

The Air Quality Partnership of Delaware, a coalition of public and private organizations, sponsored today’s ozone kick-off event and hosted a table with air quality information. DNREC, along with the Delaware Chapter of the American Lung Association, DelDOT, the Division of Public Health, WILMAPCO, DART, Ride Share Delaware, Dover/Kent County MPO, TMA Delaware, the Delaware Ecumenical Council and others are active partners in the organization.

The partnership works to improve air quality in the region through initiatives and advisories. During ozone season – May 1 through Sept. 30 – the partnership provides ozone forecasts. The partnership implements the Air Quality Action program to notify the public when air quality is forecast to be unhealthy and to encourage the public to take actions to reduce air pollution, especially on Air Quality Action days. DNREC’s web site includes a color-coded rating chart to describe the level of ozone in the air. To learn more, visit DNREC’s web site, www.dnrec.delaware.gov  or the Air Quality Partnership web site, www.wilmapco.org/AQP

Governor Ruth Ann Minner and Lt. Governor John C. Carney, Jr. declared May 11-17, 2008 as Air Quality Awareness Week to urge all Delawareans to do their share this week and throughout the year to help reduce air pollution.