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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 30, 2002
Contact:
Bob Dalley, Manager, Air Monitoring Center, (801) 887-0760
Sept. 30 marks the end of the ninth season of the Utah Department of Environmental Quality's (DEQ) voluntary no-drive day program to reduce ozone. During the summer ozone season, DEQ called a record 15 voluntary no-drive days in late June and July when Utah was experiencing record-breaking heat. Ozone is an invisible gas formed from vehicle emissions in the presence of heat and sunlight. DEQ called voluntary no-drive days when pollution levels were expected to increase to unhealthful levels.
Division of Air Quality (DAQ) Director Rick Sprott said it was a challenging summer. "Record high temperatures accelerated ozone formation, and we did exceed the health standards a few times. However, it could have potentially been much worse. It wasn't because of the wise choices people made. We thank the public for making the difference," Sprott said.
According to Sprott, summer ozone levels are lower now than they were a few years ago. Several factors have helped reduce ozone.
DAQ Planning Manager Cheryl Heying said the next four years are critical. "New standards for cars, light trucks and sport utility vehicles beginning in 2004 and the introduction of low sulfur fuel by 2006 should reduce ozone pollution significantly. However, it will take several years for cleaner vehicles and fuels to make an impact. We still need the public's help," Heying said.
Although the season has ended, DEQ continues to urge residents along the Wasatch Front to minimize human causes of ozone. Driving less, carpooling, using cleaner alternative fuels like natural gas and riding mass transit can help keep pollution levels down.
The summer ozone season runs from June 1 to Sept. 30 each year. Ozone is a major health and environmental concern in Utah=s urban counties during the summer. Continued exposure to ozone can cause breathing problems, reduce lung function, irritate eyes and nasal passages and reduce resistance to colds and other infections.
"Our goal is to never exceed a health standard and to minimize ozone levels as much as possible since any exposure to ozone can be harmful, especially to children and the elderly," Sprott said.
For more information on how you can reduce or prevent air pollution, please visit the "Clean Air Utah" Web site at www.cleanair.utah.gov. For the latest pollution update, call the Air Pollution Hotline at 975-4009 in Salt Lake and Davis counties or (800) 228-5434 in Utah and Weber counties, or visit the "Clean Air Utah" Web site.
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