NEWS FROM THE DELAWARE DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL
June 6, 2008
Vol. 38, No. 267
For more information contact David Fees, Air Quality Management Section, 302-739-9402 or Melanie Rapp, Public Affairs, 302-739-9902.
Air Quality Action Alert – Code Red – Issued For Saturday
With high temperatures and bright sunlight forecast for this weekend, DNREC’s Air Quality Management Section announced ozone will reach levels that could be harmful to public health, especially people susceptible to the effects of poor air quality.
“A Code Red Air Quality Action alert has been issued for Saturday,” said David Fees, manager with the Air Quality Management Section. “We anticipate the alerts may continue into early next week, and we want to inform the public that actions should be taken during Code Red and Code Orange days.”
DNREC’s web site, www.dnrec.delaware.gov, includes the color-coded rating scale to describe the forecasted level of ozone. Code Red means that people susceptible to the effects of poor air quality should avoid prolonged or heavy exertion outdoors, and everyone should reduce outdoor activities. When Code Orange is forecasted, susceptible people should limit strenuous outdoor activities.
Ground-level ozone forms when high temperatures and sunlight combine with pollution from vehicles, industries and businesses. Young children, seniors, people with asthma and other respiratory diseases and those who work or exercise outdoors are most susceptible to the ill effects of ozone, which can harm the lungs and contribute to other respiratory problems.
Because the weather influences the formation of ground-level ozone, high levels can be predicted. In most cases, air quality forecasts, which include ozone, are made a day in advance, by 2 p.m. and valid for the next day.
DNREC’s Air Quality Management Section encourages citizens to take steps to help reduce ozone air pollution. These measures include refueling gas tanks during cooler parts of the day, keeping your vehicle properly tuned to keep exhaust levels low, limiting lawn mowing or using hand mowers, adjusting thermostats to reduce air conditioning and closing blinds during the day. A comprehensive list of actions is posted on DNREC’s website, www.dnrec.delaware.gov and click on “Air Quality Forecast.”
This year the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency tightened the standards for ozone because scientific studies found that people were affected by ozone at levels lower than were previously determined. The new standards are more likely to increase the number of Air Quality Action Days in the mid-Atlantic region.
DNREC’s Air Quality Section measures ozone and other pollutants at nine monitoring sites throughout the state – in Brandywine, Bellefonte, Wilmington, Newark, Summit Bridge, Felton, Lums Pond, Lewes and Seaford. To view current ozone readings, visit www.dnrec.state.de.us/air/aqm_page/airmont/air.asp
