WINTER OZONE UPDATE

 

ATTENTION: Final Day of Winter Ozone Forecasting

Friday (March 29, 2013):

Friday will see partly cloudy conditions with high temperatures in the low to mid 50's.  Winds will be light out of the northwest this morning, increasing to 5-12 mph by the afternoon.  The strongest winds will occur in the southern part of the basin.  A slight chance for an isolated rain shower today, however most locations will remain dry.  As a result of forecasted weather conditions, elevated 8-hour ozone concentrations are not expected on Friday, March 29.
                                

 

What current Ozone levels mean to your health and daily activities
(EPA Pollutant Breakpoint Chart of Ozone ) 

 

Current Ozone Data


Friday, March 29, 2013; Ozone Action Day= NO

This ozone action day forecast was made on 3/28/13

 

 

Saturday (March 30, 2013):

Saturday will see partly sunny conditions with high temperatures in the low to mid 50's.  Winds will be light out of the northwest in the morning, increasing to 5-10 mph by the afternoon.  No precipitation is expected for the basin on Saturday.  As a result of forecasted weather conditions, elevated 8-hour ozone concentrations are not expected on Saturday, March 30.
                                

 

What current Ozone levels mean to your health and daily activities
(EPA Pollutant Breakpoint Chart of Ozone ) 

 

Current Ozone Data


Saturday, March 30, 2013; Ozone Action Day= NO

This ozone action day forecast was made on 3/29/13

 

WINTER OZONE HEALTH INFORMATION

Ozone is an air pollutant that can cause respiratory health effects especially to children, the elderly and people with existing respiratory conditions.  People in these sensitive groups should limit strenuous or extended outdoor activities, especially in the afternoon and evening.  More information on ozone and the health effects of ozone are available at the Wyoming Department of Health website, http://www.health.wyo.gov.

 

The goal of DEQ’s Winter Ozone Updates is to provide simple information to make decisions about your outdoor activity.  If you have compromised respiratory health, asthma, or care for the elderly or small children or are simply concerned about the quality of air you breathe, use the EPA Pollutant Breakpoint Chart of Ozone below to help plan your day accordingly.


Based on your health and those in your care, you can use this chart to decide whether to limit outdoor activity.

Category

Ozone 1-hour

(ppb)

Ozone 8-hour

(ppb)

Good

Not Defined

0 – 59

Moderate

Not Defined

60 – 75

Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups (USG)

125 – 164

76 – 95

Unhealthy

165 – 204

96 – 115

Very Unhealthy

205 – 404

116 – 374

Hazardous

405 - 604

Not Defined

  EPA Pollutant Breakpoint Chart of Ozone  

 

DEQ will provide the community with Winter Ozone Updates that discuss the current day weather forecast and how that is anticipated to impact ozone concentrations.  If forecasted conditions change, DEQ aims to provide the community timely updates.  Winter Ozone Updates are geared specifically towards making sure you have the information you need to decide whether to limit outdoor activity.

 

Current information on ozone levels at the Air Quality Division’s monitoring stations at Big Piney, Daniel, Pinedale, Boulder, Juel Spring and the Wyoming Range can be found at www.wyvisnet.com.

 

 

 

Levels of Health Concern for Ozone

 

Given possible health effects and a concern for the health and safety of the local public, the Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality (WDEQ) uses the EPA’s Air Quality Index Levels of Health Concern to inform sensitive groups and the general public of potential health risks associated with exposures to elevated levels of ozone.

 

Based on your health and those in your care, you can use this chart to decide whether to limit outdoor activity.


8-hr. Ozone
(ppb)
 Category Group Concerned and EPA Recommended Actions to Protect Your Health from Ozone
Learn more about how to protect your health from ozone.

0 - 59
 Good None.

60 - 75
  		 Moderate Air quality is acceptable; however, there may be a moderate health concern for a very small number of
people who are unusually sensitive to air pollution.
76 - 95 Unhealthy for
Sensitive
Groups
Members of sensitive groups may experience health effects.  The general public is not likely to be affected.
The following groups should reduce prolonged or heavy outdoor exertion:
* People with lung disease, such as asthma.
* Children and older adults.
* People who are active outdoors
96 - 115 Unhealthy
Everyone may begin to experience health effects; members of sensitive groups may experience more
serious health effects.
The following groups should avoid all outdoor exertion:
* People with lung disease, such as asthma.
* Children and older adults.
* People who are active outdoors.
* Everyone else should limit outdoor exertion.
116 - 374 Very Unhealthy
Everyone may experience more serious health effects.
The following groups should avoid all outdoor exertion:
* People with lung disease, such as asthma.
* Children and older adults.
* People who are active outdoors.
*Everyone else should limit outdoor exertion.

  Not Defined   
Hazardous The entire population is more likely to be affected and should avoid all outdoor exertion.

Resources

EPA Air Quality Index brochure at www.epa.gov/airnow/aqi_brochure_08-09.pdf

EPA AirNow at www.airnow.gov

United States Environmental Protection Agency at www.epa.gov/