OZONE FACTS
What is ozone?
What are ozone concentrations today?
Where can I find more information about Ozone?
What are the Human and Environmental Health Effects of Ozone?
What is the ozone standard?
Where is ozone monitored in the Colorado Springs Region?
Where can I find the most current ozone updates?
What are the ozone trends in the Colorado Springs Area?
Ozone is a component of smog and the “brown cloud” and causes health problems. Unlike carbon monoxide, ozone is not emitted directly as a pollutant, but forms when sunlight causes a chemical reaction between hydrocarbons (VOCs) and nitrogen oxide. VOCs are emitted from motor vehicles, gasoline vapors, dry cleaners, refiners, factories, trees, and consumer and commercial products.
Nitrogen oxide, another ozone precursor, is emitted from motor vehicles, power plants and other sources of combustion. Because ozone comes from so many different sources and it takes time for the reaction to occur, the reacting compounds can spread over a large area, producing a regional problem.
Depending on the meteorological conditions, winds can carry ozone, and the pollutants that form it, hundreds of miles away from the original sources. Peak ozone levels typically occur during hot, dry, stagnant summertime conditions. In Colorado Springs and in other communities along the Front Range the typical ozone season is from June to September and the highest levels are typically in June and July.
What are ozone concentrations today?
- The daily air quality index concentrations for Colorado Springs are posted on the El Paso County Department of Health’s website.
- For an explanation and more information about the air quality index go to AirNow, a U.S. Government website.
Where can I find more information about Ozone?
Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment - Air Pollution Control Division: At this website, the following information is available by clicking on the link “Reports” and “Advisory:”
- Real time data is available for the 1 hour and 8 hour concentrations along with the corresponding Air Quality Index. Go to “Reports.”
- Ozone forecasts will be done during the ozone season which is from June 1st through August 31st and all ozone forecasts are issued by 4:00 p.m. the day before. Go to “Advisory.”
What are the Human and Environmental Health Effects of Ozone?
Short-term (1-3 hours) and prolonged (6-8 hours) exposure to ambient ozone has been linked to a number of harmful health effects. Exposures to ozone can make people more susceptible to respiratory infection, result in lung inflammation, and aggravate pre-existing respiratory diseases, such as asthma. Other health effects include a decrease in lung function and increased respiratory conditions such as chest pain and cough. These effects usually occur when individuals are actively exercising, working or playing outdoors. Ozone can aggravate existing health problems for people with heart disease and breathing related diseases such as asthma and emphysema. It can be especially hard on young children and elderly.
Ground-level ozone interferes with the ability of plants to produce and store food, so that growth, reproduction and overall plant health are compromised. Ground-level ozone has been shown to reduce agricultural yields for many economically important crops. The effects of ground-level ozone on long-lived species such as trees are believed to add up over many years so that whole forests or ecosystems can be affected. Ground level ozone can kill or damage leaves so that they fall off the plants too soon or become spotted or brown. These effects can significantly decrease the natural beauty of an area.
To learn more, visit the Air Quality Curriculum Project.
What is the ozone standard?
The 8-hour ozone standard is 0.080 ppm and is calculated by taking a consecutive three year average of the 4th highest daily maximum for that year (usually this occurs during the ozone season). For ozone, the individual 4th Max values for each year are not compared directly to the standard to determine a violation, but averaged over a three-year period to determine a violation. Colorado Springs is currently in compliance with this new standard. These health standards were set by the US EPA to protect public health and welfare and have been adopted by the State of Colorado.
Where is ozone monitored in the Colorado Springs Region?
Ozone concentrations in the Colorado Springs are are measured at the US Air Force Academy (since 1996) and Manitou Springs (since April 2004) Monitoring Stations. Monitoring locations correspond to modeling which shows that the two ozone precursor pathways, corridors where concentrations of nitrogen oxide and hydrocarbons tend to be the highest, are up the Monument and Fountain Creek drainage basins.
Get your most current ozone updates by clicking the Air Quality Picture below:
What are the ozone trends in the Colorado Springs Area?
Concentrations at the US Air Force Academy Station have increased steadily since monitoring for the new 8-hour ozone standard began in 1996. A violation of the new 8-hour ozone standard occurs if the 3-year average of the annual 4th highest daily maximum concentration exceeds 0.085 ppm (although the standard is 0.080 ppm, violations do not occur until levels exceed 0.085 ppm due to truncation to two significant decimal points). Ozone levels have increased from 69 percent of the standard in 1998 to 86 percent of the standard in 2006. The four highest ozone concentrations, referred to as 1st Max through 4th Max, recorded at the U.S. Air Force Academy Monitoring Station and the Manitou Springs Monitoring Station (installed in April 2004 at the Public Works Facility), during the 2006 Ozone Season are shown on the able below. Ozone concentrations in 2006 were lower than 2005 at the U.S. Air Force Academy Monitoring Station and about the same at the Manitou Springs Monitoring Station.
| 2006 Ozone Season - Four Highest Ozone Concentrations | ||||
| 1st Max | 2nd Max | 3rd Max | 4th Max | |
| U.S. Air Force Academy | 0.073 | 0.073 | 0.072 | 0.071 |
| Manitou Springs | 0.079 | 0.078 | 0.077 | 0.076 |
The three year average of the 4th Max ozone concentrations since 1998 is shown on the graph below. Because ozone concentrations have only been measured in Manitou Springs since 2004, there is only one monitoring point shown on this graph. The Federal and State 8-hour ozone standard of 0.085 parts per million (ppm) is shown as the thick solid line across the graph.
