DATE:
March 23, 2015
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MEDIA CONTACT:
Megan Hummel, (513) 946-7748
Air Quality Advisory Program Urges Everyone
to Help Reduce Air Pollution
SOUTHWEST OHIO –The Southwest Ohio Air Quality Agency in partnership with OKI Regional Council of
Governments is changing the name of the Smog Alert program to Air Quality Advisory effective April 1.
An Air Quality Advisory is a public message that is issued the day before the Southwest Ohio Air Quality
Agency expects to see levels of air pollution that are unhealthy for sensitive groups such as children, the
elderly and people with asthma, bronchitis and other respiratory problems.
“This new program underscores the attention needed on air quality year-round in our region,” said Holly
Christmann, director of Hamilton County Department of Environmental Services, the parent
organization of Southwest Ohio Air Quality Agency. “Air quality isn’t just an issue in the summertime,
there could be an Air Quality Advisory in the winter due to high particulate matter levels. Ozone is major
pollutant causing air quality issues in the summer.”
In addition to Air Quality Advisory being a more technically accurate name, the new logo and similar
names are used in every other major region of Ohio. This provides cohesiveness throughout the state,
which is a significant benefit for people traveling between major cities in Ohio.
“Being a clean air advocate is an easy and effective way to have a positive effect on the environment,”
said OKI CEO and Executive Director Mark Policinski. “Simple changes in our daily lives can dramatically
lower the harmful impacts of air pollution.”
Levels of six main air pollutants are monitored to determine the region’s air quality as it relates to a
series of health-based standards. For each of these pollutants, the U.S. EPA has established national air
quality standards to protect public health.
Particulate matter is a type of air pollution that comes from combustion activities such as motor
vehicles, particularly diesel-powered trucks; power plants; wood burning; and certain industrial
processes. The extremely small size of the particles can pose a significant health hazard because they
can get deep into the lungs. People with cardiovascular disease, lung disease, children and older adults
may be at greater risk from particulate matter pollution.
Ozone is a harmful air pollutant that irritates the lining of the throat and lungs, making it difficult for
lungs to absorb oxygen. People with asthma, bronchitis and other respiratory problems experience
more severe symptoms. Ozone forms when nitrogen oxides from industry emissions combine with
volatile organic compounds from vehicle exhaust in the presence of sunlight and heat. U.S. EPA has
proposed a stricter national standard for ozone that will be announced in October.
“In the past few decades, the level of air pollution has decreased in every category of the National
Ambient Air Quality Standards, but there is still work to be done,” Christmann said. “More stringent
national air quality standards mean we all need to do more to keep the air clean.”
Even small changes in daily habits can help improve our local air quality. Precautions everyone can take
to help reduce air pollution include:
• Taking the bus, carpooling, biking or walking instead of driving
• Refueling your vehicle after 8 p.m.; do not top off when refueling and tighten the gas cap
• Not idling your vehicle
• Combining trips or eliminating unnecessary vehicle trips
• Keeping your vehicle maintained with properly inflated tires and timely oil changes
• Avoiding use of gasoline-powered lawn equipment on Air Quality Advisory days
• Avoiding use of oil-based paints and stains on Air Quality Advisory days
• Never burning leaves or other yard trimmings
• Always burning clean, seasoned wood in outdoor fire pits, fireplaces and wood stoves
• Not using fire pits or fireplaces for non-essential home heating on Air Quality Advisory days
• Conserving electricity
The Southwest Ohio Air Quality Agency works with government agencies, businesses, communities and
citizens to achieve and maintain healthy air quality for Butler, Clermont, Hamilton and Warren counties
in Southwest Ohio. The Agency is a division of the Hamilton County Department of Environmental
Services (HCDOES) which also encompasses the Hamilton County Recycling and Solid Waste District.
More air quality information can be found at www.SouthwestOhioAir.org or by visiting Facebook
(www.facebook.com/SouthwestOhioAir) or Twitter (www.twitter.com/SWOhioAir).
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