U.S. Environmental Protection Agency News Releases: New England Region (CT, ME, MA, NH, RI, VT, 10 tribes) Update : Poor Air Quality Expected in Southern New England Thursday, 7/18; Coastal CT, RI, MA

You are subscribed to News Releases: New England Region (CT, ME, MA, NH, RI, VT, 10 tribes) for U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. This information has recently been updated, and is now available.   News Release U.S. Environmental Protection Agency New England Regional Office July 17, 2013  Contact:  Dave Deegan, (617) 918-1017 Poor Air Quality Expected in Southern New England for Thursday, July 18, 2013 Coastal Conn., southern R.I., & south coastal Mass. (Boston, Mass. – July 17, 2013) – Poor air quality, due to ground-level ozone, is expected for coastal Connecticut, Southern Rhode Island, and south coastal Massachusetts, including the Cape and Islands for Thursday. EPA and the New England states provide daily air quality forecasts which are updated regularly. The poor air quality may continue into the weekend. “On Thursday we will likely have unhealthy air quality in many parts of southern New England,” said Curt Spalding, regional administrator of EPA’s New England office.  “On these hot, humid and smoggy days, EPA and the medical community suggest that people limit their strenuous outdoor activity. People can also help reduce emissions of air pollution by driving less and by keeping air conditioning thermostats a few degrees warmer.” The ozone standard is 0.075 parts per million (ppm) on an 8-hour average basis. Air quality alerts are issued when ozone concentrations exceed, or are predicted to exceed, this level. So far this year, there have been 13 days in New England when ozone concentrations have exceeded the standard. Exposure to elevated ozone levels can cause breathing problems, aggravate asthma and other pre-existing lung diseases, and make people more susceptible to respiratory infection.  When ozone levels are elevated, people should refrain from strenuous outdoor activity, especially sensitive populations such as children and adults with respiratory problems. Ground-level ozone forms when volatile organic compounds and oxides of nitrogen (ozone precursors) interact in the presence of strong sunlight. Cars, trucks and buses give off the majority of the pollution create ozone.  Gasoline stations, print shops, household products like paints and cleaners, as well as lawn and garden equipment also add significantly to the ozone problem.  When ozone is forecast to be unhealthy, EPA asks the public to take action. The public can help reduce ozone by: - Using public transportation, car pooling and/or combining trips; - Avoiding the use of small gasoline powered engines, such as lawn mowers and tractors, chain saws, power washers, string trimmers and leaf blowers. More information: - Real-time ozone data, air quality forecasts, sign up for air quality alert emails www.epa.gov/ne/aqi - Free air quality alert apps for iPhones and Androids: http://www.airnow.gov/ - Preliminary list of this summer’s unhealthy air days: http://www.epa.gov/region1/airquality/o3exceed-13.html #   #   #   Learn More about the Latest EPA News & Events in New England (http://www.epa.gov/region1/newsevents/index.html) Follow EPA New England on Twitter (http://twitter.com/epanewengland) More info on EPA's Environmental Results in New England (http://www.epa.gov/region1/results/index.html) You can unsubscribe or update your subscriptions or e-mail address at any time on your Subscriber Preferences Page. All you will need is your e-mail address. If you have any questions or problems, please e-mail support@govdelivery.com for assistance.  This service is provided to you at no charge by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.    This email was sent to buzzhairs@gmail.com using GovDelivery, on behalf of: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency · 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue NW · Washington DC 20460 · 202-564-4355