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Area Designations for 2008 Ground-level Ozone Standards

This web site provides information on the process EPA, the states, and the tribes follow to designate areas as "attainment" (meeting) or "nonattainment" (not meeting) the ground-level ozone standards established in 1997 and in 2008.

Breathing air containing ozone can reduce lung function and increase respiratory symptoms, thereby aggravating asthma or other respiratory conditions. Ozone exposure also has been associated with increased susceptibility to respiratory infections, medication use by asthmatics, doctor visits, and emergency department visits and hospital admissions for individuals with respiratory disease. Ozone exposure may contribute to premature death, especially in people with heart and lung disease. High ozone levels can also harm sensitive vegetation and forested ecosystems.

EPA will work with the states and tribes to share the responsibility of reducing ozone air pollution.  Current and upcoming federal standards and safeguards, including pollution reduction rules for power plants, vehicles and fuels, will assure steady progress to reduce smog-forming pollution and will protect public health in communities across the country.

EPA strengthened the air quality standards for ground-level ozone in 2008.

This web site contains the following information:

State Designations for the 2008 Ground-level Ozone Standards: The status of this effort is summarized here.

Tribal Designations for the 2008 Ground-level Ozone Standards: The status of this effort is summarized here.

Air Quality Forecast: Two-day air quality forecasts, including ozone, for dozens of cities. (Some include web cam shots of real-time conditions)

EPA has similar sets of web pages for fine particle (PM2.5) designations, nitrogen dioxide (NO2) designations, sulfur dioxide (SO2) designations, and lead (Pb) designations.

 

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