Ozone season begins tomorrow

Warmer temperatures, more sun lead to higher levels of ozone pollution

The Mid-America Regional Council (MARC) Air Quality Program issued its first 2011 SkyCast air quality forecast today at 3:30 p.m. to mark the beginning of “ozone season” — the time period between April 1 and Oct. 31 when ozone pollution typically reaches levels that cause health concerns. When ozone pollution levels are expected to be high, an Ozone Alert is issued to warn residents to take actions that protect their health and reduce pollution.

Ozone pollution can cause wheezing, coughing and difficulty breathing even in healthy adults, and it can be especially harmful to children, seniors or people with breathing or heart problems.

The daily SkyCast uses a color code to indicate what type of air quality is expected the next day:

• “Green” SkyCast indicates healthy air, when low concentrations of ozone pollution are expected.
• “Yellow” SkyCast indicates moderate concentrations of ozone pollution with some increased health risk.
• “Orange” and “Red” SkyCasts indicate Ozone Alert days with unhealthy concentrations of
  ozone pollution.

Residents can get the SkyCast on MARC’s website at www.marc.org/airQ; by calling the air quality information line at 913/383-7557; via Twitter at www.twitter.com/airQKC; by signing up for email alerts at http://greaterkc.enviroflash.info/signup.cfm; and from many local media outlets.

Typical summers in Greater Kansas City can result in many Ozone Alerts — and an even more stringent ozone standard is anticipated. The Environmental Protection Agency expects to finalize the new national ozone standard this summer.