NEWS RELEASE
Denver's Dirty Air Designation Becomes Official
Clean Up Needed to Protect Children, Seniors, Those With Asthma, Even Active Adults For Immediate Release:
November 20, 2007 For More Information Contact: Jeremy Nichols, Director, Rocky Mountain Clean Air Action, 303-454-3370 Denver–The Denver metro area's dirty air is officially on the road to clean up today, as the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency formally announced the region is in violation of health standards for ground-level ozone, the key ingredient of smog.
"Today's dirty air designation puts us on track to keep the Denver metro area safe from smog," said Jeremy Nichols, Director of Rocky Mountain Clean Air Action. "Although we never should have violated federal health standards in the first place, we now have an opportunity to make sure we don't make the same mistake twice."
Children, seniors, those with asthma and other respiratory conditions, and even active adults are at risk from ozone pollution. This past summer, ozone in the Denver metro area from Douglas County north to Fort Collins and Greeley soared above federal health standards 50 times according to state monitoring data. The high ozone officially pushed the region to violate federal health standards, which are measured on a three-year basis.
The violation puts the Denver metro area on the road to clean up in order to safeguard public health. Already, Governor Bill Ritter has called on the Regional Air Quality Council to immediately develop a plan that reduces ozone in 2008 and beyond in order to safeguard public health. The Denver City Council has also called on the Regional Air Quality Council to develop an ozone reduction plan that fully safeguards public health.
"The message is clear: We need to safeguard public health from smog," said Nichols. "Thankfully, our leaders are heeding the call and rising to meet the challenge. With our dirty air, we have the opportunity to clean things up as never before."
Denver's ozone woes come as the Environmental Protection Agency is proposing to strengthen health standards. While current standards limit ozone to no more than 0.080 parts per million over an eight hour period, the Environmental Protection Agency's health science advisers are urging health standards to be lowered to between 0.060 and 0.070 parts per million. Earlier this year, the agency proposed a new ozone standard of between 0.070 and 0.075 parts per million.
According to the Environmental Protection Agency, an ozone health standard of between 0.060 and 0.070 parts per million would nationally prevent as many as 9,200 premature deaths, 13,000 asthma-related hospital visits, 27,000 asthma attacks, 1,500,000 missed work and school days, and 4,700,000 days when people have to restrict their activity.
The Environmental Protection Agency estimates that for every dollar spent on reducing ozone, the nation reaps $8.50 back in benefits. These benefits come from lower health care costs and increased productivity.
Ozone is formed when pollutants from smokestacks, tailpipes, and oil and gas drilling react with sunlight. It is a corrosive gas that can trigger asthma attacks and even cause premature death. Denver's high ozone levels are tied to the growing number of cars and trucks, ramped up oil and gas drilling in Weld County, and the fact that health standards have become stronger over the years.
"Our dirty air designation should spur pollution reductions throughout the region," said Nichols. "It won't be easy, but with the health of our kids at stake, this is a challenge we need to meet."
(END)
BACK TO NEWS AND ALERTS >>
| 
