Indicator Report - Air Quality: Ozone
Why Is This Important?
Ozone can cause several adverse health effects in anyone, but especially in sensitive populations such as children, older adults, people with preexisting lung diseases such as asthma, and people who are physically active outdoors. Some of these health problems include painful breathing, chest tightness, headache, coughing, increased asthma symptoms, lung inflammation, temporary reduction in lung capacity, and over time ozone is associated with chronic lung problems and respiratory infections. Adverse health effects from ozone are more likely to occur when ozone levels exceed the Environmental Protection Agency's standard, but are possible when ozone levels are below the standard, especially in sensitive populations.Ground-level ozone, not to be confused with the atmosphere's protective ozone layer, is created by reactions between environmental pollutants and light and heat. Ozone is the main component of smog and is dangerous to our health and environment. The creation of ozone is facilitated by warm weather and sunshine, therefore, ozone levels are usually higher in the summer and in the mid-afternoon.
Maximum 8-hour Average Ozone Concentrations Over the National Ambient Air Quality Standard, Average Number of Days by Geography, 2000-2010
Data Notes
Averages calculated using available years which can vary depending on location. This map was made using an interval break method called "equal interval" where classes are based on equal-sized sub-ranges according to numeric value.Data Sources
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Air Quality System (AQS).Other Views
- Number of Days by Year, Utah, 1997-2007
- Average Number of Days by Month, Utah, 1997-2007
- Average Number of Days by County, Utah, 2000-2009
- Number of Days by Year, Cache County, 2000-2009
- Number of Days by Year, Box Elder County, 2001-2009
- Number of Days by Year, Davis County, 2000-2009
- Number of Days by Year, San Juan County, 2000-2009
- Number of Days by Year, All Salt Lake County, 2000-2009
- Number of Days by Year, Tooele County, 2005-2009
- Number of Days by Year, Uintah County, 2000-2009
- Number of Days by Year, Utah County, 2000-2009
- Number of Days by Year, Weber County, 2000-2009
- Number of Person-days by Year, Box Elder County, 2001-2009
- Number of Person-days by Year, Cache County, 2000-2009
- Number of Person-days by Year, Davis County, 2000-2009
- Number of Person-days by Year, San Juan County, 2000-2009
- Number of Person-days by Year, All Salt Lake County, 2000-2010
- Number of Person-days by Year, Tooele County, 2005-2009
- Number of Person-days, by Year, Uintah County, 2007-2009
- Number of Person-days by Year, Utah County, 2000-2009
- Number of Person-days by Year, Washington County, 2004-2009
- Number of Person-days by Year, Weber County, 2000-2009
- Number of Days by Year, Provo-Orem MSA, 2000-2009
- Number of Days by Year, Salt Lake City-Ogden MSA, 2000-2009
Definition
Ozone is a substance found in air pollution. It is a principle component of smog and is measured in parts per million (ppm). Ozone is created in the environment through reactions between existing pollutants and sunlight and heat. Ozone is an air pollutant and should not be confused with the protective stratospheric ozone layer that shields the Earth from the sun's ultraviolet rays. The Environmental Protection Agency's ozone standard states that the 8-hour average ozone level should not exceed 0.075 ppm.How We Calculated the Rates
| Numerator: | Number of days with maximum 8-hour average ozone concentrations over the National Ambient Air Quality Standard. |
| Denominator: | Not applicable. |
Page Content Updated On 10/28/2011,
Published on 11/01/2011
