Community Corner

DEEP: Saturday Air Quality Not Favorable

"Elevated concentrations of ground-level ozone pollution" is the culprit.

The state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection is predicting unhealthy air quality for what it calls "sensitive groups on Saturday.

The poor air quality is related to "elevated concentrations of ground-level ozone pollution" for most of Connecticut, except for Litchfield County, DEEP officials said in a news released issued on Friday. 

A forecast of "Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups" indicates increased likelihood of respiratory symptoms and breathing discomfort in active children and adults with respiratory disease, such as asthma, DEEP officials said. 

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Ground level - or "bad" - ozone is not emitted directly into the air, but is created by chemical reactions between oxides of nitrogen -NOx - and volatile organic compounds - VOC - in the presence of sunlight, DEEP officials said. Emissions from industrial facilities and electric utilities, motor vehicle exhaust, gasoline vapors, and chemical solvents are some of the major sources of NOx and VOC, DEEP officials said.

Here is a DEEP-provided link to current Air Quality Levels in CT: http://www.airnow.gov/index.cfm?action=airnow.local_state&stateid=7

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Accordoing to the DEEP, a large "dome" of high pressure centered across the mid-section of nation will move over Connecticut and will produce a combination of sunny skies, hot temperatures and west to southwest surface winds on Saturday. The combination of heat and surface winds will produce favorable conditions for ozone formation and transport of elevated levels of ozone into Connecticut from the mid-west and mid-Atlantic regions, including Long Island Sound, DEEP offocials said.

Litchfield county will likely experience moderate levels of ozone as the surface winds will transport less upwind ozone and precursors. A forecast of “moderate” air quality levels indicates that unusually sensitive individuals may experience respiratory symptoms, DEEP officials said.

DEEP officials said Connecticut experienced 14 unhealthy air quality days during 2011. With the early onset of warmer temperatures this year, Connecticut experienced its first unhealthy air day on April 15.  When air pollution levels are predicted to be "unhealthy for sensitive groups," the DEEP recommends:

  • Conserving electricity by setting air conditioners to 78 degrees.
  • Wait ‘til 8” to use energy intensive appliances like washing machines, dryers and dishwashers.
  • Driving less by carpooling, vanpooling or using public transit.
  • Telecommuting if possible.
  • Refueling a vehicle after dusk and never idling a vehicle unnecessarily.

The DEEP monitors, tracks and forecasts daily air quality levels across Connecticut for fine particulate matter each day of the year, and for ozone from May 1 through September 30 each year. 

 

 


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