AIR QUALITY FORECASTS RENEW STATEWIDE ON APRIL 15

      RALEIGH - State and local environmental agencies will renew their daily air quality forecasts two weeks earlier than usual this year based on new, more stringent federal ozone and particle pollution standards that could result in substantially more air quality alerts across North Carolina.

      Air quality forecasts will resume on Tuesday, April 15, in metropolitan areas across the state as the ozone season gets underway. Forecasts will be based on two new air quality standards adopted by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA):

• The 8-hour ozone standard of 0.075 parts per million (ppm) that the EPA adopted in March 2008, replacing the old standard of 0.08 ppm that had been in effect since 1997.
• The 24-hour fine particle standard of 35 micrograms per cubic meter (µg/m³) that the EPA adopted in September 2006, replacing the old standard of 65 µg/m³.

      The daily forecasts focus on the air pollutant likely to reach the highest level on a given day, which could be ozone or particle pollution. The color-coded forecasts show whether air quality is likely to be good (green), moderate (yellow), unhealthy for sensitive groups (orange), or unhealthy (red). Preliminary analyses by the Division of Air Quality (DAQ) show that North Carolina could have at least twice as many days that exceed the new ozone and particle standards, compared to the old standards.

      "We expect to see a substantial increase in Code Orange and Red days across the state," says George Bridgers, the DAQ's chief air quality forecaster. "That doesn't mean that air quality is getting worse, but that the standards have become more strict to better protect public health and the environment."

      State and local air quality programs will issue air quality forecasts for ozone from mid-April through September in the Asheville, Charlotte, Fayetteville, Hickory, Triad, Triangle and Rocky Mount metropolitan areas. Forecasts will be issued for particle pollution year-round for all of the metro areas except Rocky Mount.

      "Previously, our forecasts included ozone for all of the metropolitan areas and particle pollution only for the Charlotte, Hickory and Triad areas," Bridgers says. "This year we are adding particle pollution to our forecasts for all metropolitan areas across the state except Rocky Mount, which lacks a real-time particulate monitor."

      Meteorologists issue the air quality forecasts at 3 p.m. every day for the following day. On Code Orange and Red days, the forecasts also suggest things people can do to protect their health and reduce air pollution, such as limiting outdoor activities, avoiding strenuous exercise and driving less.

      Ozone is North Carolina's most widespread air quality problem, particularly during the warmer months. High ozone levels generally occur on hot sunny days with little wind, when pollutants such as nitrogen oxides and hydrocarbons react in the air. High levels of fine particles are more of a problem in the western Piedmont region but can occur throughout the year, particularly during episodes of stagnant air and wildfires.

      Ozone, a highly reactive form of oxygen, can be unhealthy to breathe -- particularly for children, people with respiratory problems or heart disease, and even healthy adults who work or exercise outdoors. Exposure to high ozone levels may cause previously healthy individuals to develop asthma over time. Ozone also causes millions of dollars in tree and crop damage each year. More than half of North Carolina's residents live in counties where ozone levels periodically exceed the standard.

      Particle pollution, which consists of very small particles and liquid droplets in the air, can be harmful to breathe and contributes to haze and other air quality problems. Fine particles can penetrate deeply into the lungs and absorb into the bloodstream, causing or aggravating heart and lung diseases. Persons most susceptible to particle pollution include those with heart and respiratory conditions, the elderly and young children. Particle levels have exceeded the annual average standard in Catawba, Davidson and Mecklenburg counties in recent years.

      Unlike ozone, which is usually highest in the afternoons, particle levels can be high at any time of the day. Sensitive groups should take special care to limit their physical activity during high particle periods.

      The DAQ developed its air quality forecasting system to help comply with air standards for protecting public health and the environment. The forecasts are part of the division's Air Awareness Program, which tries to increase public awareness about air pollution, its causes, and ways to prevent it. In the Triad, forecasts are issued by the Forsyth County Environmental Affairs Department.

      North Carolina has taken a number of steps to reduce levels of ozone, fine particles and other air pollutants in recent years. The General Assembly has enacted the Clean Smokestacks Act, which requires power plants to reduce their ozone, particle and haze-forming emissions by three-fourths. Other legislation has required cleaner gasoline and expanded the auto emissions-testing program from nine to 48 counties.

      Citizens can obtain air quality information and forecasts by visiting the DAQ's web site at www.ncair.org or Forsyth County's web site at http://www.co.forsyth.nc.us/EnvAffairs/. The division also has a toll-free hotline (1-888-RU4NCAIR) where people can call to get the forecasts or find out how to join the air quality coalitions in the forecast regions.

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