No Escape Can You Really Ever Get Away from the Smog A Midsummer Look at Ozone Smog in 1999

8/9/2019 No Escape Can You Really Ever Get Away from the Smog A Midsummer Look at Ozone Smog in 1999

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No Escape: Can You Really Ever Get Away fromthe Smog?

A Midsummer Look at Ozone Smog in 1999

SUMMARYAs we head into the final stretch of summer, there is No Escape from health-threatening ozonesmog. During August millions of Americans flee hot, congested urban areas for vacation spots tobreathe clean air and see the sights. Thousands of kids head for summer camps to enjoy natureand have a healthy outdoor experience. However, whether you stay at home, head out tofavorite vacation spots, or go to summer camp, we face unhealthy ozone smog levels whereverwe turn.

Because of the increasing spread of the air pollution problem and the drift of air pollution onwind currents, today many of the nations most popular summer destinations provide no refuge.For example, you expect to breathe dirty air in places like New York City or Atlanta, Georgia butGreat Smoky Mountain National Park, the Cape Cod National Seashore, the Jersey shore, andIndiana Dunes are being hard hit as well. In some cases, the number of dirty air days is even

higher than the urban areas nearby.

With preliminary and incomplete data available, it appears that 32 states and the District ofColumbia have exceeded the 8-hour ozone standard on at least 85 days from April 1 to July 25.The federal ozone standard has been exceeded 2,743 times over this period of time.

Last summer, the most recent year for which we have a complete set of summer ozone smogdata, Acadia National Park in downeast Maine over 280 miles from the nearest large city had asimilar number of ozone exceedence days as the Boston or New York metropolitan areas.Moreover, looking at the U.S. Environmental Protections measure of whether air quality stan-dards have been violated (i.e., the 4th highest eight-hour ozone average concentration), ozoneconcentrations in Acadia at times are every bit as high as those in New York or Boston. Simi-larly, residents of Charlotte, Raleigh, Nashville, and Chattanooga could not find refuge from

summer ozone levels in Great Smoky Mountains National Park where both the ozone level andnumber of exceedence days matched that in those southeastern cities. In the Midwest, peopleheaded out from Chicago and Milwaukee to the Lake Michigan destinations of Indiana Dunesand Door County, Wisconsin have also found unhealthy ozone levels waiting for them.(See graph on next page.)

About midway through the summer, the national data indicates: 13 states have experienced 20 or more dirty air days this summer alone: Connecticut,

Georgia, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, North Carolina, New Jersey, New York, Ohio,Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas and Virginia.

10states have exceeded the 8-hour standard more than 100 times: Indiana, Maryland,Michigan, North Carolina, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia and Wiscon-sin.

There have only been 14 days since May 1 when at least one state has not exceeded the 8-hour ozone standard: 8 days in May, 2 days in June and 4 days in July so far.

The one-hour ozone standard has been exceeded ___ times on ___ days this summer as well. So far, there are at least 6 more days of unhealthy air quality and 543 exceedances than this

point last year.

In short, ozone smog is likely everywhere you live, and everywhere you want to be. There is noescaping the smog in large parts of the nation. The best way to reduce smog in vacation spots isto reduce pollution in our urban areas and the less populated areas as well. We all need to worktogether to reduce the threat of air pollution by cleaning up cars, trucks, fuels, and power plants,the biggest sources of ozone smog. With national solutions, we can solve this national problem.


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Boston, MA

Truro/N. Cape Cod, MA

Baltimore City, MD

Eastern Shore/Kent Co, MD

Kennebunkport, ME

MacFarland Hill/Acadia, ME

Detroit, MI

Harbor Beach/Lake Huron, MI

Charlotte, NC

Mt. Mitchell, NC

Portsmouth, NH

Nacote Creek/Jersey Shore, NJ

Newark, NJ

New York City/Trade Center, NY

Riverhead/Hamptons, NY

Columbus, OH

Eastlake/Lake Erie, OH

Bucks Co/Bristol, PA

Philadelphia, PA

Narragansett, RI

Look Rock/Great Smoky Natl

Park, TN

Nashville, TN

Galveston, TX

Houston/Bayland Park, TX

Salt Lake City, UT

Arlington Co./DC Suburb, VA

Shirley Plantation/Williamsburg,

VA

Door County/Newport State Park,

WI

A Comparative Look at Ozone Exceedances Across the Nation


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0 20 40 60 80 100 120 140

Greenwich, CT

Hartford, CT

New Haven, CT

Cad illac M ountain/Acadia Na tl

Park, ME

Kennebunkport, ME

MacFa rland Hill/Acadia , ME

Boston, MA

Fairhaven/New B edford, MA

Newb ury, MA

Truro/N. Cap e C od, MA

Ware/Northampton, MA

Mt Washington, NH

Portsmouth, NH

Rye, NH

Narragansett, RI

Providence, RI

Bennington, VT

REGIONAL PROFILES OF AVAILABLE DATA

Although there are national tourist destinations, most people take advantage of a few days to getaway closer to home. We have highlighted population centers and vacation spots where therewere monitored ozone problems around the country in this section.

NEW ENGLAND

When most people think of New England, they think of quaint small town full of history, Boston,Cape Cod and other coastal vacation spots from Connecticut to Maine. But most people do notthink of New England as the end of the tailpipe for smog in the East. In this region, the north-ern tip of Cape Cod has had 11 unhealthy days, where as the heart of Boston had 4 days of dirtyair. The bucolic tip of the Berkshire Mountains in the center of Massachusetts were not muchcleaner, with 5 dirty days.

In Maine, with a total population of 1.2 million, one of the most sparsely populated states in theEast, vacation spots like Acadia National Park experienced ozone readings on par with Philadel-phia. In the Rhode Island coastal town of Narragansett, there were 8 dirty days, 4 times morethan Providence. Even upstate Vermont has not escaped the dirty air this year.

The following chart highlights various population centers and vacation spots around the region:


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In addition to the risk to your lungs posed byozone while you are on vacation, to add insult toinjury the other pollutants that make up summersmog can spoinl the sights you came to see in thefirst place. Many of our national treasures becomeshrouded in a veil of haze that forms from thepolluting sources that cause ozone. What a

difference a day makes! Here is the view fromCadillac Mountain in Maines Acadia NationalPark on a clear vs. polluted day. In addition torecording some of the highest ozone levels in theeastern U.S., Acadia suffers too often from pollu-tion that obscures its majestic vistas.

MID ATLANTIC

The Mid-Atlantic is home to several of the toppopulation centers that are also top vacationspots: New York City, Philadelphia andWashington DC. The Chesapeake Bay andhundreds of miles of coastline in Delaware,New Jersey and Maryland that attract millionsof visitors each weekend. In addition, severalmountain chains snake through the region,including the Appalachians, Poconos, Catskills,and Alleghenys. Although densely populated,New Jersey also has huge agricultural lands, asdo Delaware and Maryland. On the westernedge of the region, the Great Lakes provideanother vacation destination.

But the smog has not discriminated betweenthe population centers and the vacation spotshere. Tony New York suburbs of Greenwich,

Connecticut and playground of the rich andfamous in the Hamptons have experienced asmany dirty days as parts of New York City.Newark and the Jersey Shore have had thesame number of dirty air day this year, butNewark doesnt have a boardwalk. AmishCountry in Bucks County had twice as manydirty days as Philadelphia. Annapolis had fourtimes as many bad air days than nearby Balti-more. And the Eastern Shore of Maryland,getaway for the Beltways Bandits, is just aspolluted as the hot air theyve left behind.

Here are some highlights from around the region:

0 2 4 6 8 1 0 1 2 1 4 1 6 1 8

B r a n d y w i ne S t a t e P a r k , D E

L e w e s / D e l a w a r e S h o r e , D E

M c M i lla n R e s e r v o i r, D C

A n n a p o li s , M D

B a l ti m o r e C i t y , M D

E a s t e r n S h o r e /K e n t C o , M D

C o l li e r s M i ll , N J

N a c o t e C r e e k / J e r s e y S h o r e , N J

N e w a r k , N J

R u t g e r s U n i v e r s i ty , N J

C h a t a u q u a , N Y

M t . N i n h a m , N Y

N e w Y o r k C i ty /T r a d e C e n t e r,

N Y

R i v e r h e a d / H a m p t o n s , N Y

S a r a to g a N a t l P a r k , N Y

B u c k s C o / B r is t o l, P A

H e r s h e y , P A

L i t tle B u f fa l o S t a te P a r k , P A

P h i la d e l p h i a , P A

P i tt s b u r g h , P A


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Visiting the Parks

Each year, nearly 30 million Americans take advantage of our national natural treasures by visiting National Parks andRecreation Areas at least 100 miles from home. [FN: Travel Industry Association of America fast facts, www.tia.org]While some of the parks are remote and clean, others are hard hit with smog. All of these parks are near monitorshighlighted in this report.

Acadia National Park 2.7 millionCape Cod National Seashore 4.9 million

Great Smoky National Park 9.3 millionShenandoah National Park 1.5 millionIndiana Dunes National Lakeshore 1.5 millionCuyahoga Valley National Recreation Area 3.4 million

Source: National Park Service1

MIDWEST

The Midwest is home to Small Town USA, but in addition to bucolic agricultural areas it is dottedwith major industrial cities. Many folks in the upper midwest spend their spare time recreating

on the thousands of lakes that bless Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Michigan swimiming, fishingand paddling. People from the lower Midwest flock rivers for boating, waterskiing, and picnicing. Home to many of the nations dirtiest power plants and highest ozone levels this summer, it isdifficult for Midwesterners to avoid high ozone levels anywhere.

Detroit has been hit the hardest, with three weeks of dirty air, or 21 days, but favorite getawaysalong the Lake Huron shore have been not far behind with pollution levels at Harbor Beach.Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore had higher pollution levels and more dirty days than India-napolis. Chicago, the Windy City, is blowing its pollution across the region, bringing high smogreadings from Door County Wisconsin to Traverse City, Michigan making it hard to catch yourbreath anywhere around Lake Michigan.

0 2 0 4 0 6 0 8 0 1 0 0 1 2 0

C h i c a g o / J a r d i n e , IL

J e r s e y v i ll e / M a r q u e t t e P a r k , IL

Z i o n / Il li n o i s B e a c h S t a t e P a r k , IL

E v a n s v i l le , I N

F t . W a y n e , IN

In d i a n a D u n e s N a t l L a k e s h o r e , IN

In d i a n a p o l i s , IN

P o t a to C r e e k S t a te P a r k , IN

D e t ro i t , M I

F r a n k f o r t, M I

H a r b o r B e a c h /L a k e H u r o n, M I

H o u g h to n L a k e , M I

M u s k e g o n , M I

C i n c i nn a t i, O H

C l e ve l a n d , O H

C o lu m b u s , O H

E a s t la k e / L a k e E r ie , O H

W a r r e n C o . / K i n g s Is l a n d , O H

C h a r le s t o n , W V

D o o r C o u n t y/ N e w p o r t S P , W I

H a r r i ng t o n B e a c h , W I

M i lw a u k e e / B a y s i d e , W I


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SOUTHEAST

Southerners know how the beat the heat. in the summer, they retreat to the Appalachian moun-tains, to the coast, or to local lakes and state parks to fish, swim, hike, and camp. Finding refugefrom summer smog, however, is more difficult. So far this summer, ozone has reached levels inGreat Smoky Mountains National Park greater than levels recorded in every southern city exceptAtlanta, GA. When people leave Charlotte for the mountains, they are jumping from a fire intothe Frying Pan of smog.

Tennessee, cradle of the Blues, Rock and Roll and Country music, sends tourists in the SmokyMountains to sing a sad song about smog they thought they left behind. In historic Virginia,George Washingtons Mount Vernon home as well as colonial Williamsburg are suffering inpollution as great as our nations capital. Other southern tourist destinations did not fare muchbetter. So far, Shenandoah Valley National Park and even remote Mt. Mitchell, NC have hadpeak ozone experiences in the mountains.

0 2 0 4 0 6 0 8 0 1 0 0 1 2 0 1 4 0

B i r m i n g h a m , A L

A l e x a n d i a / M t . V e r n o n ,

V A

B i g M e a d o w s /

S h e n a n d o a h , V A

H a m p t o n / N e w p o r t /

V i r g i n i a B e a c h , V A

S h i r l e y P l a n t a t i o n /

W i l l i a m s b u r g , V A

N a n c h e z , M S

G r e a t S m o k y N P , T N

N a s h v i l l e , T N

A t l a n t a , G A

A u g u s t a , G A

M a c o n , G A

M i a m i , F L

S a r a s o t a , F L

T a m p a / S t . P e t e , F L

A s h v i l l e / F r y i n g P a n , N C

C h a r lo t t e , N C

M t . M i tc h e l l , N C

R a l i e g h , N C

C o l u m b i a , S C

WEST

The West is known for big wide open spaces, remote parks and booming cities. In fact, manywestern cities are starting to feel the impact of sprawl and growth, and they want to get awayfrom it all. Luckily, there are still remote areas in the West that are not being clobbered byozone, but the cities, destinations in themselves, are paying the price of a growing popularity.

Salt Lake City, surrounded by mountains, is headed for LA-like smog conditions in the next 20years and had ___ dirty days this year. Houston, second only to LA in population in the West, isalso home to chemical and refining industries, as well as lots of cars and oppressive heat thatrequire air conditioning and heavy energy use. While they have been blessed this year withlower than usual smog levels, they still have had ___ dirty days in Houston. The gulf coastEven Boulder, Colorado, the eco-topia college town at the foot of the Rockies, has been hit withsmog this year.

No data was available for several other Western smog centers, but that doesnt mean that Phoe-


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nix is beating the smog. Las Vegas is gambling with its health, and Los Angeles is still the king ofsmog, although it has made tremendous improvements over the past decades. Afternoon show-ers in Seattle and Portland keep them relatively clear of smog, and Wyoming, Idaho, NewMexico and Montana are still seeing big blue skies for now.

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

B o u l d e r , C O

T u l s a , O K

D a l l a s , T X

G a l v e s t o n , T X

H o u s t o n / B a y l a n d

P a r k , T X

H o u s t o n / D e e r

P a r k , T X

B o u n t i f u l , U T

S a l t L a k e C i t y ,

U T

NATIONAL SUMMARY OF AVAILABLE DATA

For this report, preliminary ozone data was collected from 32 states and the District of Columbiathat make information available to the public through websites and upon request. The data is notfinal or binding, because it must still go through a process to verify the quality of the data,however, this process takes several months. In fact, by the time the final and official data isavailable to the public, it will be early spring 2000. Because ozone smog causes real andsubstantial threats to public health and the environment, we have chosen to use availableunofficial data. While it is incomplete, it does show trends and a fairly accurate picture of theproblem in the states represented.

We would like to thank the states that make data readily available to the public because thisallows the public to take precaution when it matters most when pollution levels are highest.(For a list of websites and state contacts to get ozone information, see Appendix A.) More cities

and states have developed ozone forecasting and alert systems that make it easier to communi-cate air quality to the public. EPA has revised the Air Quality Index and developed an ozonemapping system that can be used by local news stations that shows the growth and movement ofozone across the Eastern U.S. All these things have greatly improved public awareness of smogand when and how to protect themselves and their families.

There are several states that are partially or not included in this report that have air qualityproblems. California, the state that leads the nation in smog, is not accurately represented in thisreport because they did not make information available in a timely manner. Partial data for SanDiego and Ventura are included in the report, however the areas with the most serious problemsare not included. The State of Nevada did provide information saying that no monitor in centralNevada had exceeded the ozone standard, but it did not include data for the two most populousand polluted cities in the state, Las Vegas and Reno, which have separate authority to collect

ozone data. Several Tennesee cities also have separate authority and did not submit informationby our deadline.

Other states suspected of exceeding the ozone standard in 1999 that are not included in thisreport are Arizona, Kentucky, Louisiana, Minnesota, and Oregon. These states were contactedbut they did not provide sufficient data to the Clean Air Network by the deadline of the report.Given past trends that suggest few if any ozone exceedances in the past, we did not contactAlaska, Hawaii, Idaho, Iowa, Kansas, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wash-ington, and Wyoming to provide data for this report.


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The map below shows dirty air days between April 1 and July 25, 1999 in the 32 states and theDistrict of Columbia included in this report. There were 85 days in this period where at least onestate exceeded the federal 8-hour ozone standard. For most of the country, the ozone seasonbegins in April or May and continues through September or October. There were an additional 6days before the reporting period that reported ozone exceedences.

There are 13 states that have experienced 20 or more days of dirty air, and the ozone season isjust about half over: They are: Pennsylvania (31 days), Michigan (29), Georgia (27), Ohio (26),

Maryland (26), North Carolina (26), New York (25), New Jersey (24), Tennessee (24), Kentucky(23), Virginia (23), Connecticut (20), and Texas (20).

Dirty Air Days

21 + (11)

11 to 20 (10)

1 to 10 (12)

Dirty Air Days: Preliminary Data from 33 States

A summary grid of the available data is provided below. This table is based on the complete datain Appendix B. It shows the number of times the ozone standard was exceeded in each state andthe date they occurred. In the collected data, states exceeded the 8-hour ozone standard 2744times. Days when there were over 100 exceedances across the country include: May 29 (168times), May 30 (197), June 9 (102), June 10 (118), July 15 (133), July 16 (196), and July 17 (118).All but June 10 and July 15 were on weekends, when people are more likely to be outdoors andactively exercising or working in the yard.

Summer Camp to Breathe Clean Air?

Summer is also the time of year young children head off to summer camps to recreate in the outdoors and experience a morenatural and healthy environment for a few weeks. Unfortunately, many rural summer camps may also be located in areas thatsuffer from high ozone smog levels. Ironically, kids at summer camps have provided excellent case studies for examining thehealth impacts of ozone pollution, since kids at camp are highly active and exposed to outdoor air constantly. Ozone levels canbe accurately measure at or near the camps.

In field studies, typically several times a day, children are asked to perform lung function tests called spyrometry (in essence,measuring the speed and completeness of forced exhalation of air from the lungs). These studies show definite decreases in lungfunction associated with exposure to ozone. For example, a 1997 study of the impact of air pollution on the lung health ofchildren attending an asthma camp in Connecticut found an association between increased daily maximum ozone concentrationsa decreased lung function. The study specifically found that kids with asthma attending the camp used their inhalers more often,experienced a decrease in lung function, and had more respiratory symptoms when maximum air pollution levels reached 80

parts per billion. 2


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OZONE SOURCES AND EFFECTSOzone is created in a complex chemical reaction between nitrogen oxides (NOx) and volatileorganic compounds (VOCs) when baked in sunlight. The primary sources of NOx are: coal-firedpower plants, cars, trucks, industrial boilers and non-road engines such as boats, trains andlawnmowers. The primary sources of VOCs are: solvents, paints, gasoline, and chemicalmanufacturing.

Nitrogen oxides (NOx) are a by-product of fossil fuel combustion. Burning coal, oil, gasoline,and natural gas produce almost all of the nations NOx emissions. In 1996, on-road vehicles(cars, trucks, and buses) made up the largest share of NOx emissions (30%), followed by electric-ity-generating power plants (26%), other industrial fuel combustion and processes (23%), non-road engines (boats, trains, construction and agricultural equipment) (19%), and miscellaneoussources (6%). 3

Volatile organic compounds, or hydrocarbons are emitted both through combustion of fuel andevaporation of fuel and solvents used in industrial and manufacturing processes. In 1996, solventuse in industrial and small business processes made up the largest share of the VOC emissionsnationwide (34%), followed by on-road vehicles (cars, trucks, and buses) (27%), other industrialprocesses (17%), non-road engines (boats, trains, construction and agricultural equipment)(13%),fuel combustion (4%), and miscellaneous sources (5%). 4

The final ingredient needed to create ozone is hot, sunny weather that bakes the NOx and VOCsand creates the photochemcial reactions that yield ozone smog. In order to reduce ozone levels,we have to reduce precursor pollutants, because we have no control over the weather.

When the heat is on, but not the smog

The summer of 1999 has been one of the hottest summers on record. There have been record temperatures and energy useacross the Eastern United States. Although there have been more areas exceeding the ozone standard this summer than in othersummers, some hot days have ozone alerts predicted and others do not.

There are other factors that affect ozone besides sunny heat. If the wind is blowing too hard or the humidity is too high or low,ozone formation does not occur as frequently. If there are late afternoon rainshowers, which can wash the bad air away, theremay be six, but not eight, hours of poor air quality, which are needed to exceed an 8-hour ozone standard. A high pressuresystem above an area can put it in a death-hold for ozone, but if the high pressure system is over the ocean, the region canescape some of the smog formation.

Why is the Eastern U.S. hit so hard with smog, but the West and Plains states seem to escape most of the smog? Another factor inozone formation is population density and the transport of pollution from one area to another. In the Eastern U.S., small townsand big cities are in relative close proximity, whereas in the West, population centers are surrounded by vast sparsely populatedareas. More wind and less humidity play a role in lower ozone levels, as well as topography. Salt Lake City, which is sur-

rounded by mountains, traps ozone, whereas Denvers air can blow over the plains and get dispersed more.

Smog Impacts on Health and EnvironmentHealth EffectsOzone is a powerful lung irritant that has a cumulative impact on the body. It is especiallydangerous to children, the elderly, people with asthma and other lung diseases, and people whowork and exercise outside. The American Lung Association has estimated that there are ____million children under 14 and ___ million seniors over 65 that live in areas that have violated the8-hour ozone standard between 1995 and 1997. In addition, there are ____ people with asthmaand ____ with chronic lung diseases, such as emphysema and chronic bronchitis and pneumo-nia.


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Ozone is an intensely irritating gas, and it is damaging to the lungs. A powerful oxidant,ozone is capable of destroying organic matter including human lung and airway tissue; itessentially burns through cell walls. 5

Chronic effects:

First, continuing exposure and increasing cell injury cause the smallest airways in the lungsto become damaged much as they do as a result of cigarette smoking. Tissues in the walls

of airways become inflamed and swollen; eventually areas of scarring develop. As thedamage increases, breathing capacity is diminished.

Second, the defensive role of the lungs is affected, most likely due to injury and destructionof specialized lung cells whose task is to expel foreign intruders such as invading bacteriaand other disease-causing organisms. 6

Acute effects:

Elevated ozone levels are correlated with increased numbers of hospital admissions and visitsto emergency rooms for asthma and other respiratory problems.7 Studies conducted in theNortheastern United States and Canada show that ozone is associated with 10-20 percent ofall summertime respiratory-related hospital admissions. People with respiratory disease suchas asthma can experience reductions in lung function and increased respiratory symptoms,such as chest pain and cough, when exposed to relatively low ozone levels during periods ofmoderate exertion. Even normal healthy people exercising in ozone levels below the level ofthe one-hour ozone standard (120 ppb) for six or seven hours experience significantlyreduced lung function and inflammation (often with such symptoms as chest pain, conges-tion, and coughing). 8

Youngsters are of particular concern because they breathe in more air per pound of bodyweight, spend more time out of doors, and are less likely to recognize warning symptoms. 9

A number of studies on children at summer camps have established that exposures to levelsof ozone below the one-hour standard reduced lung function. Studies of effects on childrenindicate that at fairly low exposures (90 ppb for 1 hour), the majority (or 51%) of children

will experience mild to moderate respiratory effects, such as increased cough and shortnessof breath. Another 13% of the children will experience moderate to severe respiratoryeffects, including increased cough and breathing distress. Finally, another 1% of the childrenwill suffer incapacitating respiratory effects and will be forced to stop their activities. 10

Epidemiologic studies have consistently shown the number of asthma attacks to increase withacute ozone exposures. The reported percent increases in asthma attacks vary widely fromstudy to study (20% to 120%), but even the lowest estimate, 20%, is substantial.11

There is increasing evidence that injury caused by ambient levels of ozone may be moreclosely related to cumulative dose (total resulting from continued or repeated exposures overtime) than to the peak value. 12

Environmental Effects of Ozone

Ground-level ozone is also one of the most pervasive and detrimental pollutants known to affectvegetation, and is responsible for 90 percent of all air pollution damage to crops. It interfereswith photosynthesis and there is no known safe level below which detrimental effects do notoccur. Annual crop loss from ozone alone in Illinois, Indiana and Ohio has been calculated tofall between $199-346 million. Loss of growth and yield for the six major commodity crops inthe Southeast (sorghum, cotton, wheat, corn, peanuts, and soybeans) are costing farmers from$213-353 million annually. 13


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Ozone damages the leaves of many plants and trees and, under controlled experiments, has beendemonstrated to decrease growth in sensitive species. Models have shown that at current ozonelevels, wood growth in Northeastern forests is being reduced by over 10 percent. 14

Not all oxides of nitrogen form ozone. There are other ways that these emissions can harm ourenvironment as well. Nitrogen deposition into watersheds contributes to the over-fertilization ofcoastal and estuary water systems. Too much nitrogen in these water bodies results in increasedalgae growth, which limits the oxygen available to sustain fish and other aquatic life. Although

contribution from the air varies from place to place, according to EPAs Great Waters Report, anestimated 27 percent of nitrogen entering the Chesapeake Bay can be attributed to air emis-sions.15

Nitrogen deposition can also over-fertilize the land. When this happens, the nitrogen is nolonger able to be stored in the soil and used by plants. Instead, it leaches into ground and surfacewaters. Tree health can be adversely affected when the soil becomes saturated with nitrogen.

Nitrogen oxides are also a precursor to nitrates, a major component of acid deposition (oftencalled acid rain), that damage both land and water systems. In many acid-sensitive streams andlakes in eastern North America, high acidity has resulted in the loss of numerous fish and aquaticspecies. Acid deposition strips soils of plant nutrients and frees up aluminum, which is toxic toboth plant and animal life. The highest nitrate deposition in the U.S. occurs in a 500-mile swathfrom southern Illinois through northern New York. 16

NATIONAL SOLUTIONS TO CLEAN UP SMOG

CLEANER POWER PLANTS:Coal-fired power plants are the single largest industrial contributor to the nations ozone smogwoes. To add insult to injury, they enjoy a loophole in the Clean Air Act that allows older plantsto avoid cleaning up to the standards met by new plants today. As a result, many plants arebetween 30-50 years old, and are 4-10 times dirtier than a new plant built today. While we thinkof electricity as clean energy, most of the electricity in the U.S. is generated from burning coal.

In fact, in 1997 the dirtiest 559 power plants emitted 5.9 million tons of NOx. All of these plantshave been exempt from making clean air improvements through a loophole in the Clean Air ActAmendments of 1977. If all these plants met the standards in place for new power plants, whilerunning at the same capacity, 4.2 million tons, or 71% of the current NOx pollution would beavoided. 17 Power plants emit 26% of the nations nitrogen oxides, second only to cars andtrucks.

IMPACT OF THE DC CIRCUIT ON OZONE PROGRESSIn May, the DC Circuit remanded the 8-hour ozone standard, telling EPA that although they recognized the public healththreat posed by ozone, that EPA should defend the level it set and the criteria. EPA is appealing the decision, but in themeantime, will be collecting data from states so that it can make determinations of which areas do not meet the 8-hour

ozone standard based on 3 years of monitoring data.

During the summer of 1998, EPA issued its regional summer ozone smog rule calling for 22 eastern states to reduce theozone transported beyond their borders to surrounding states. The plan would reduce summertime nitrogen oxideemissions by more than one million tons per year. The states of Alabama, Indiana, Michigan, North Carolina, Ohio,South Carolina, Virginia, and West Virginia have sued EPA to overturn the order. In light of the remand of the airquality standards, these states recently convinced a panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia todelay implementation of the plan until the merits of the other case is decided. At best, this will delay action to clean upthe air under this plan by at least one year. However, EPA has indicated its intention to move forward with alternative

plans to force reductions in power plant NOx.


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CLEANER CARS AND FUELS

Cars and light trucks (minivans, sport utility vehicles and pick-ups) are the largest polluterscontributing the ozone smog. Although cars have gotten significantly cleaner in the past 30years, trucks have lagged behind. In addition, most of the air improvements have been canceledout by more than 120% increase in the number of miles Americans drive each year since 1970.

In May 1999, EPA proposed a comprehensive plan to reduce tailpipe emissions from cars andlight trucks, including minivans, sport utility vehicles and pick-up trucks by 70-90%. It alsoproposed to reduce the sulfur in gasoline by over 90%. The proposal is a good step in the rightdirection and will help all areas of the country combat smog, as well as other pollutants associ-ated with tailpipe and fuel emissions. The program will be finalized in December 1999, and willtake effect beginning in 2004. In the meantime, automakers will be making interim steps toclean up cars, beginning in 2001. Hopefully, EPA will retain the strong proposal and not bow tooil and auto industry pressure to weaken the plan.

CLEANER TRUCKS

EPA will also propose tighter regulations for big diesel trucks this year that will also take effect in2004. They will consider whether to reduce the sulfur in diesel fuel as well, but the fuel and

tailpipe programs are not integrated as they are in the car proposal, and may occur on slightlydifferent timelines that will prevent deep reductions in diesel emissions in the near future.

Both of these programs would bring big relief to cities and rural areas plagued with ozone smog,as well as reducing fine particle pollution and toxic air pollution.

CONCLUSIONThere is no escaping air pollution. The vacation destination you are heading to may be as dirtyor even dirtier than the city you are leaving behind. We need to continue to make progress oncleaning up air pollution, especially ozone smog because millions of Americans are at risk.


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footnote:

1. National Park visitorship numbers(source National Park Service http://www.nps.gov/planning/mgm/ These are annual figures, butthe bulk of them come in the summer.

2. American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, 1997 February; 155 (2): 654-660.See also, Raizenne, ME, Burnett, RT, Stern, B., et al. (1988). Acute lung function responses toambient acid aerosols exposures in Children. Environ. Health Perspect.. 79: 179-185; Spektor,

DM, Lippman, M, Lioy PJ et al. (1988a). Effects of ambient ozone on respiratory function inactive, normal children. Am Rev. Respir. Dis. 137: 313-320.; Bock, N., Lippman, M. Lioy, P et al.(1985). The effects of ozone on the pulmonary function of children. In: Lee, SD, ed. Evaluationof the Scientific Basis for Ozone/Oxidant Standards. Air Pollution Control Association, Pitts-burgh, PA 197-308.]]

3. [U.S. EPA, National Air Quality and Emissions Trends Report 1997.]

4. [U.S. EPA, National Air Quality and Emissions Trends Report 1997.]

5. [Health Effects of Outdoor Air Pollution, (ALA 1996)].

6. [Harder, SD, Harris DT, House D Koren HS. Inhibition of Human Natural Killer Cell Activityby Exposure to Ozone. Inhal Toxicol 1990:2:161-73] Susceptibility to infection is increased.[Fact Sheet: EPAs Proposal on the Ozone Standard U.S. EPA November 29, 1996)].

7. Weisel, CP, Cody RP, Levy PJ. Relationship Between Summertime Ambient Ozone Levelsand Emergency Department Visits for Asthma in Central New Jersey. Environ Health Perspect1995; 103 (suppl. 2):97:102.

8. [U.S. EPA, OAQPS. National Air Quality and Emissions Trends Report 1993. ResearchTriangle Park: EPA, 1994. Doc. No. EPA 454/R-94-026 pp. 9, 43.].

9. [ALA report]

10. Kinney PL, Ware, JH, Spengler, JD; Dockery, DW, Speizer, FE, Ferris Jr., BG. (1989) Short-term Pulmonary Function Change in Association with Ozone Levels. Am. Rev. Resp. Disease.139:56-61. Lippman, M (1989) Health Effects of Ozone: A Critical Review. J. Air Poll. ControlAssoc. 39 (No. 5): 672-695.

11. [Holquin, AH, Buffler, PA, Contant, CF (1985). The effects of ozone on asthmatics in theHouston area. In: Lee, SD ed. Evaluation of the scientific basis for ozone/oxidant standards. AirPollution Control Association, 250-261. Whittemore, AS, Korn EL (1980). Asthma and airpollution in the Los Angeles area. Am J. Public Health 70: 687-696.]

12. Devlin, RB, McDonnell WF, Mann R, Becker S, House DE, Schreinemachers D, Koren HS.Exposure of Humans to Ambient Levels of Ozone for 6.6 Hours Causes Cellular and Biochemi-cal Changes in the Lung. Am J. Respir. Cell Mole. Biol. 1991; 4:72-81. Chang L, Miller FJ,

Ultman, et al. Alveolar Epithelial Cell Injuries by Subchronic Exposure to Low Concentrations ofOzone Correlated with Cumulative Exposure. Toxicaology and Applied Pharmacology 1991.109:219-34.]

13. [Production and yield figures come from the USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service.Ozone impact data come from the U.S. EPA Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards StaffPaper, Review of National Ambient Air Quality Standards for Ozone, EPA-452/R-96-007.]


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14. [Ollinger, Scott, John Aber and Peter Reich. Simulating ozone effects on forest productivity:

Interactions among leaf-, canopy-, and stand-level processes. Ecological Applications. 19977(4) 1237-1251.

15. [U.S. EPA, Deposition of Air Pollutants to the Great Waters, June 1997, p. 142.]

16. National Atmospheric Deposition Program, 1997 Wet Deposition/National Trends Network.]

17. [EPA Acid Rain Database.]

18.

No Escape Can You Really Ever Get Away from the Smog A Midsummer Look at Ozone Smog in 1999

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