IOWA DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES June 27, 2002 AIR QUALITY IMPROVES AFTER OZONE SMOG HITS EAST AND WEST IOWA DES MOINES - Good to moderate air quality returned to Iowa as ozone smog hit extreme sides of the state this week. Harrison county and adjacent areas in extreme western Iowa experienced an Air Quality Index of 104 on Tuesday for ozone smog, a level considered unhealthy for sensitive groups engaged in prolonged outdoor exertion. The Scott and Clinton county area hit 124 on Sunday and 100 on Monday. "We should see the AQI in the 40s to low 50s across the state today, levels in the green, or good category," said Brian Button, DNR air information specialist. No health effects are associated with air quality in this range. Ozone smog forms when emissions from vehicles, utilities and boilers and fumes from paints, gasoline and chemicals "cook" or react in sunlight and warm temperatures to form ground-level ozone, a colorless gas capable of irritating lung tissue. Levels 101 and higher are considered unhealthy for sensitive groups such as asthmatics under the national Air Quality Index (AQI), which reports pollution levels using a color-coded and numerical range for pollutants. The higher the AQI, the poorer the air quality. An AQI of 1 to 50 is green or good; 51 to 100 is yellow or moderate; 101 to 150 is orange or unhealthy for sensitive groups; 151 to 200 is red, unhealthy for everyone. Rarely used in the nation are purple for very unhealthy (201 to 300) and maroon for hazardous (301 to 500.) In Iowa, the overwhelming majority of days fall into the good to moderate categories and all of Iowa currently meets federal outdoor health standards, although extreme eastern Iowa is pushing the standards. In many U.S. communities, AQI values are mostly below 100, with values greater than 100 occurring several times a year. Several metropolitan areas in the United States have more severe air pollution problems, and the AQI in these areas may often exceed 100. AQI values higher than 200 are infrequent and AQI values above 300 are extremely rare. Iowans can check air pollution levels at www.iowacleanair.com. "This website allows Iowans prone to breathing difficulty to check air quality and see if they should be exercising out-of-doors or doing prolonged, heavy work outside," said Button. "Air in the orange category is potentially unhealthy for some individuals." For more information, contact Brian Button at (515) 281-7832, or by e-mail at [log in to unmask] +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Earlier in the week, the DNR asked area residents to consider simple voluntary actions to avoid the heat while preventing pollution. To give sunlight less time to react with emissions and smog-forming fumes, citizens can: * Postpone lawn mowing, oil-based painting and auto refueling until late in the day or evening, * Postpone unnecessary driving until evening or consolidate errands to use the car when pollution controls are warmed * Avoid or postpone use of heavy-emitting two-stroke engines such as gas-powered mowers, weed trimmers and chain saws until evening. * To prevent particulate matter, avoid burning trash, debris and wastes. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - For SC email list T-and-C, send: GET TERMS-AND-CONDITIONS.CURRENT to [log in to unmask]