| Ozone (O3) is created in the lower atmosphere by a chemical reaction between nitrous oxides (NOx) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs). The reaction requires the presence of sunlight and generally occurs only in the summer months in the Boston region. Regional ozone forms a brown haze, “smog,” and can cause breathing difficulties, especially for those who have respiratory problems. Repeated exposure to ozone pollution can cause permanent damage to the lungs. Even when ozone is present in low levels, inhaling it can trigger a variety of health problems, including chest pain, coughing, nausea, throat irritation and congestion. It also can reduce lung capacity and worsen bronchitis, heart disease, emphysema and asthma. Ozone and its precursors (NOx and VOCs) can be transported thousands of miles in the atmosphere. Emissions from New York, for example, can lead to ozone episodes in Boston and Cape Cod.
How are we doing?
USEPA has both a one-hour standard and an eight-hour standard for ozone. The key readings for these standards for Suffolk County are shown in this chart. Both standards reached a new high in 2002, and subsequently declined. The readings for 2004 were almost identical to those for 1994.
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Click image to enlarge chart "Ozone Monotoring, Suffolk County, 1994-2004"
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