For Release: August 7, 1997

Contact: Stephen Majkut 277-2808

Stephanie Powell 277-2771 ext. 4418

PROVIDENCE - The RI Department of Environmental Management announced today the availability of a state-of-the-art system which provides daily ground-level ozone levels. The animated map illustrates ozone movement through the eastern region of the United States from North Carolina to Maine, including Rhode Island, and is color-coded to show the presence and location of good, moderate, approaching unhealthful, and unhealthful air.

Rhode Island, through its regional air quality management associations, is one of 14 states participating in the Ozone Mapping Project with the US Environmental Protection Agency. Air monitoring data from more than 200 air quality stations from the 14 states, including three sites in Rhode Island, is collected continuously. Several times daily the data is uploaded to EPA to provide data for the map, according to Stephen Majkut, Chief of DEM's Office of Air Resources.

EPA collects the data where it is translated into gridded maps for use on television. Weather Service International, a national weather data provider, is offering it in the form of SMOGcast to television stations at no cost. In addition, the public as well as news media can access the map on the Internet via http://www.epa.gov/region01/eco/ozone/.

"The map is a welcome tool for those with lung disease such as asthma, emphysema, and bronchitis, because it alerts those who are particularly sensitive to limit their exposure," said Molly Clark, environmental health program manager, of the American Lung Association of Rhode Island. According to Clark, ground level ozone can cause lung damage even in healthy individuals. Anyone who works, exercises, or plays outdoors during periods of peak ground level ozone can experience respiratory distress. Those most at risk include the elderly, children, and those with previous respiratory illness. High concentrations of ground level ozone can cause shortness of breath, coughing, headaches, nausea and eye and throat irritation. Ground level ozone is also known to lower the body's resistance to colds and pneumonia.

"The map can be extremely useful here in Rhode Island," Majkut said. "This year we have had 21 days where ground level ozone has approached the unhealthful range, and eight Ozone Alert Days when drivers were encouraged to leave their cars at home and ride RI Public Transit Authority buses for free to reduce pollution from auto emissions." In Rhode Island, Majkut said, vehicles release more than 650 tons of pollutants into the air each day, including hydrocarbons and nitrogen oxides which react together with sunlight to produce ground level ozone.

"Now Rhode Islanders can have near real time information available to them either through any local television stations that decide to use the free service or through Internet access that can help them make intelligent and informed decisions about their activities," Majkut said. Those choices can include pro-active measures such as keeping your car tuned up, reducing auto travel, using manual lawnmowers, and filling gas tanks during evening hours, as well as precautionary actions to limit outdoor exposure during times of unhealthful conditions.

"The Ozone Map Project is an exciting educational tool and goes hand-in-hand with additional material we have available through our regional collaboration on air quality improvements," Majkut said. Those materials include a brochure on simple ways consumers can help reduce air pollution and an air quality guide to recommended actions during the summer ozone season. The materials and other information on ground level ozone are available through EPA's regional hotline number, 1-800-821-1237.

The Ozone Mapping Project was developed through the partnership of the EPA, the Mid-Atlantic Regional Air Management Association, and two regional associations in which DEM plays an active role: the Ozone Transport Commission and the Northeast States for Coordinated Air Use Management.