Ozone
Ground-level ozone, also known as smog, is produced on hot, sunny days by a chemical reaction between volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and oxides of nitrogen (NOx). These pollutants are released from motor vehicles, lawn and garden equipment, paints and solvents, refueling stations, factories, and other activities that require fuel combustion. Levels of ozone are dependent on the amount and ratios of VOCs and NOx in the air as well as weather conditions including sunlight, temperature, and wind speed and direction.
Health impacts
Sensitivity to ozone varies, but elevated levels can irritate eyes, nose and throat, and make breathing difficult even in healthy people. High ozone levels can trigger respiratory problems such as asthma and chronic bronchitis attacks in those who already suffer these diseases. If you experience these symptoms, contact your physician.
What can you do to reduce ozone air pollution?
- Conserve energy, which reduces the need for utilities to burn coal.
- Buy clean, renewable power.
- Drive less.
- Don’t idle your engine.
- Use alternative means of transportation.
During air quality alerts
- Postpone or reduce vehicle trips.
- If you need to refuel, do so after 8 p.m.
- Limit use of paints and solvents.
- Don’t burn wood.
- Postpose using gasoline-powered equipment, like lawn mowers.
Surprisingly, gas-powered lawn mowers emit more VOCs per hour than a modern car because they lack pollution control technology, so consider mowing less often, replacing grass with annuals or using reel or electric mowers.
Sign up for air quality updates
Sign up at http://mn.enviroflash.info to receive daily air quality forecasts and air pollution health alerts by email or text message.
More information
For additional information on air quality health issues, see the Minnesota Department of Health website.
