Poll reveals Americans want to see less air pollution
In an effort to show Americans want cleaner air, the American Lung Association recently released results from a national poll that reveal strong support for stricter limits on ozone pollution.
Paul Billings, senior vice president for the ALA, said more than 4,000 children and 15,000 adults in Washington County suffer from asthma, a restrictive airway disease that can be triggered by high levels of ozone in the air. In Greene County, more than 700 children and roughly 3,000 adults suffer from the same breathing condition.
Billings said coal-fired plants and the mining of coal are sources for ozone production. Washington County’s ozone grade is a D, while Greene County’s grade is a C. Both are unhealthy for those who are at-risk, including people with asthma and heart conditions. Roughly 40 percent of the U.S. population lives in areas with unhealthy levels of ozone, according to the ALA.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency moved to tighten the federal ozone standards. Their proposal would move ozone attainment levels from the current 75 parts per billion to between 65 and 70 ppb. But Billings said it’s not enough. Medical and health associations would like to see the standard lowered to 60 parts per billion.
“It is a powerful air pollutant,” Billings said about ozone. “Everyone is vulnerable.”
According to the EPA, ground-level or “bad” ozone is not emitted directly into the air, but is created by chemical reactions between oxides of nitrogen and volatile organic compounds in the presence of sunlight. Emissions from industrial facilities and electric utilities, motor vehicle exhaust, gasoline vapors and chemical solvents are some of the major sources of NOx and VOC. Breathing ozone can trigger a variety of health problems, particularly for children, the elderly and people of all ages who have lung diseases such as asthma.
Billings said the White House has until Oct. 1 to make a decision on the new standard. He said it is possible the current standard will remain in place.
“We know air pollution is harmful to our health,” he said. “We need to see a reduction in pollution to make our air healthier and safer to breathe for all.”
For more information about ozone pollution and the possible policy change, visit the American Lung Association website at http://www.lung.org/.