DEC and the state Department of Health issue Ozone Health Advisories when DEC meteorologists forecast that ozone levels are likely to exceed standards set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. An exceedance occurs when the average hourly reading at an air quality monitoring site is higher than the federal ambient air quality standard for ozone of 0.124 parts per million. If an advisory is needed, DEC staff will notify the news media and place a message on the DEC Ozone Hotline. Callers will be able to listen to a taped message that describes air quality across New York State. Scientific studies have shown that ozone can damage lung tissue and may impair the lung function of healthy adults exposed to ozone for several hours.
Ozone can make eyes itch, burn and water.
It also can cause chest pain, coughing, wheezing and pulmonary congestion. Ground-level ozone is formed by photochemical reactions when emissions of nitrogen oxides and unburned hydrocarbons from automobile exhaust, gasoline vapors and industrial solvents mix under sunny, hot conditions. Excess ozone near the earth's surface should not be confused with ozone in the upper atmosphere. Ozone levels above the federal standard were recorded last year in New York State on four days at four different locations. These levels can, depending on individual circumstances, be a threat to human health.