However, it has been slow going in spreading the word about air pollution alert days, the effect high ozone levels have on the health and well-being of area residents, or what people can do on a personal level to help ameliorate the problem. Added to the human toll are the financial costs of health care, medication and lost work and school days. While this issue is incredibly complex and must be attacked on several fronts, a coalition has been formed to raise awareness about air quality issues and offer practical, individual-level steps people can take to help ease the problem. Clean Air Action is a local collection of organizations that has been formed to educate people on steps they can take to reduce ground level ozone and the risks involved in living with high levels of pollution. Their current focus is letting people know about ozone warnings and watches.
Ozone is a respiratory irritant.
It forms at ground level when pollutants from cars, industries, and other sources react in sunlight. Shortness of breath, coughing, wheezing, and pain are just a few of the side affects of living in a severely polluted area. People who already suffer from any type of lung disease are especially affected. Also at extremely high risk are children. Because they play outside and inhale more air pollution per pound of body weight than adults, and because their lungs are still developing, children face a greatly increased risk of developing respiratory problems.