California Adopts New Ozone Standard, April 28, 2005
The California Air Resources Board (ARB) unanimously approved the nation’s most health protective ambient air quality standard for ozone, intended to give special consideration to children’s health.
The new 8-hour average standard for ozone was set at 0.070ppm, not to be exceeded. The 1-hour average ozone standard of 0.09, not to be exceeded, was retained.
The new 8-hour standard is substantially more health protective than the 1997 National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS) for ozone of 0.08 ppm, because under the federal standard multiple exceedances are allowed each year and concentrations may rise to 0.085 before exceedances are recorded. The NAAQS is currently undergoing review by the U.S. EPA.
Ozone, also known as urban smog, can affect human health in many ways including: itchy, watery eyes, scratchy throat, difficulty brreathing, shortness of breath, coughs, heightened asthma rates, cardiopulmnary cases and premature deaths, according to the ARB.
Further information is available online.
