By Maria Sanchez-Traynor
Camera Staff Writer

Ozone pollution may make breathing harder for some residents this summer.

Ozone, which is helpful high in the atmosphere when it blocks harmful sunlight rays, can be potentially dangerous when at ground level.

"The problem is that when it (ground-level ozone pollution) reaches higher levels it can cause health problems, especially for people who are sensitive, such as the young, old or those with respiratory problems," said Meg Franko, manager of communications for the Regional Air Quality Council.

To help inform the public of high-concentration ozone days, the Regional Air Quality Council has teamed up with the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment to create an advisory system during the summer months. Daily through Sept. 15, the council will have updated ozone advisories on its Web site, www.raqc.org.

Franko said even healthy adults are susceptible if they spend a lot of time outdoors. She noted symptoms such as stinging eyes, breathing problems and chest pains.

Ground-level ozone, commonly known as smog, is created when volatile organic compounds — which come from things like car emissions and paint thinners — combine with nitrogen oxides in sunlight.

The summer months have the highest levels of ozone concentration because longer days, extra sunlight and less airflow let the compounds sit around and "cook" longer, Franko said.

Franko recommended that people with higher susceptibility spend less time outdoors on days with high levels of ozone.

She said there are many things residents can do to help prevent ground-level ozone in their area — such as tightening gas caps, refueling cars in the evening and using electric-powered lawn mowers.

Alice Guthrie of Boulder's Environmental Affairs Office said the city is trying to help out as well by trying to refrain from practices such as street painting and lawn mowing on days with high levels of ozone.

"On days we can't prevent the activities, we'll try to reduce the ozone damage by doing those things in the evening," she said.

June 3, 2002

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