The past two days have seen record heat in the Baltimore/Washington corridor. This prompted Code Red Ozone Alerts for the region. As this dry, hot summer progresses this may become a normal occurence. Read on to find out what causes ground level ozone, what its effects can be, and what actions you can take to protect yourself and your family, as well as, keep ground level ozone in check.

As the summer gets underway, the Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE), Baltimore Metropolitan Council, Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments, and the ENDZONE partners are continuing a partnership with more than 100 local and county governments, businesses, and private organizations to voluntarily reduce air pollution sources when serious ozone pollution days are predicted.

"Ozone Action Days are prime examples of what the public and private sectors can do to protect our environment and health," said Governor Glendening. "Each of us must do our share for cleaner air."

When meteorologists forecast that Code Red air quality is expected, Ozone Action Days are announced through radio, television, highway signs and other media. Maryland experienced 14 Code Red days last summer, 14 Code Red days in 1997, and 4 Code Red days in 1996.

Ground-level ozone is an invisible gas, which is formed when volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and nitrogen oxides (NOx) "cook" in hot sunlight and high temperatures.

The primary sources of VOCs and NOx include automobiles, power plants, small businesses, small gasoline-powered engines, and consumer products such as paints and household cleaners. High concentrations of ozone can aggravate heart and respiratory problems and cause lung damage. The young and those with pre-existing lung conditions are particularly at risk.

On Ozone Action Days, participants can delay or reschedule certain manufacturing operations, encourage employees and customers to postpone lawn mowing; minimize the use of herbicides and pesticides; avoid routine maintenance, delay highway painting and asphalt paving; conserve energy; reschedule printing jobs and use travel alternatives such as carpooling, mass transit, biking, walking or telecommuting.

Five years ago, MDE started a color-coded ozone forecasting system to alert the public, through the media, to air quality conditions. This was followed by the creation of an animated Ozone Map for television by MDE and the American Lung Association of Maryland that uses actual monitoring data to show viewers the real-time formation and movement of ground-level ozone pollution in their area through the day. The color-coded mapping system has been adopted by the EPA and other states across the country.

What causes Ground level ozone?

Ground-level ozone is created when a mixture of air pollutants from a variety of sources (such as the fumes from our vehicles, lawn mowers, and boats or emissions from power plants and industrial facilities) react in sunlight. The main ozone causing pollutants are volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and nitrogen oxides (NOX). Because heat and sunlight are also important factors in ground-level ozone formation, ozone pollution is primarily a concern from April through October. Motor vehicles account for about 30-40% of the ozone-causing pollutants in the Baltimore and Washington areas.

Code Red Health Advisory

Ground-level ozone can cause lung damage, eye irritation, breathing difficulties, coughing and chest pains. Since ozone formation is influenced by the weather, it is possible to predict when conditions will exist for an area to have high ozone pollution. A team of meteorologists provides such forecasts for both the Baltimore and Washington areas. On these predicted "Ozone Action Days," a Code Red Health Advisory is issued advising the following precautions:

• Children should reduce outdoor activities.
• Healthy individuals should limit strenuous outdoor work or exercise.
• Individuals with respiratory and heart ailments, emphysema, asthma or chronic bronchitis should limit their outdoor activities. If breathing becomes difficult, move indoors.

Try these simple steps to prevent high levels of ozone from forming...

• Don't use gasoline-powered lawn and gardening equipment. Try elecric or manual tools instead.
• Limit driving. Rideshare, carpool, walk, or bike. Combine errands into one trip.
• Take public transportation.
• Postpone using oil-based paints and solvents.
• Do not refuel on an Ozone Action Day. If you must refuel, do so after dusk.
• Avoid excessive idling.
• Keep your car well tuned.
• Defer use of household consumer products that release fumes or evaporate easily.
• Start charcoal with an electric or chimney-type fire starter instead of lighter fluid.
• Conserve energy and recycle.

We all have a stake in clean air, and we all have a responsiblity to help clean the air. Let's work together and do our share for cleaner air and a cleaner bay.