The Facts Ozone can aggravate asthma, causing more attacks, increased use of medication, more medical treatment, and more visits to hospital emergency clinics 1.6 million emergency room visits are due to asthma in the US, 17 percent of all pediatric emergency room visits are for asthma 40 percent of the asthmatic population are children Asthma accounts for $9.8 billion in direct health care costs 14 Americans die each day from asthma, 3 times the rate 20 years ago Based on 1993 population data, approximately 231,000 adults and 123,000 children suffer from asthma in North Carolina Even moderately exercising healthy adults can experience a 15-20 percent reduction in lung function from exposure to low levels of ozone over several hours Ozone Action! For Better Health Ozone is a colorless gas that can be found in the air we breathe. It is sometimes referred to as "smog" and is formed when a mixture of air pollutants "bake" in the hot, summer sun. These pollutants, released from sources such as cars and factories, are a problem in much of North Carolina. When ozone levels are high, the following factors are usually in place: Unhealthful levels usually occur between Noon and 6 p.m. from May through September. High ozone days can be predicted, because the weather influences the formation of ground-level ozone. Meteorologists will forecast ozone levels in NC this summer for Charlotte, Triad and Triangle metropolitan areas. When doing yard work, try to use lawn rakes, non-motorized push mowers, and hand edgers. The Symptoms Exposure to high ozone levels can cause shortness of breath, pain with deep inhalation, coughing and wheezing, headaches, nausea, and eye and throat irritation. Medical studies have shown that ozone causes inflammation, and may damages lung tissue, with unhealthful effects continuing for days after exposure. Children often play outside on hot, muggy summer afternoons. Their lungs are still developing, and they breathe more rapidly and inhale more air pollution per pound of body weight than adults. On days when smog levels are high, these factors put children at increased risk for respiratory problems. Health Tips to Protect You and Your Family During the summer months, the Division of Air Quality in the North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources issues health alerts on days when high ozone levels are most likely to occur. These health alerts are announced through the news media, the DAQ WEB site (http://daq.state.nc.us), and e-mail or fax notification, or call the Air Quality Hotline at 1-888-RU4NCAIR (1-888-784-6224) and select option 5 for tomorrow's forecast. Join the Regional Air Quality Coalition and receive fax notification of AIR QUALITY ACTION DAYS this summer. Be aware of the ozone forecast and alert those most susceptible to high ozone levels, including children, active people of all ages, those with respiratory diseases such emphysema, asthma and chronic bronchitis, and people with unusual susceptibility to ozone. Those individuals should limit outdoor activities and stay indoors. Healthy individuals should limit strenuous outdoor activities. |
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