The potential chronic effects of repeated exposure to ozone are of even greater concern. Laboratory studies show that people exposed over a six to eight hour period to relatively low levels develop lung inflammation. For these reasons, EPA recently revised the national ozone standard to a more stringent 8-hour standard of 0.08 ppm. Ozone Air Pollution Fact sheet Meeting the Ozone Health Standard in Louisiana Louisiana is not in compliance with EPA's health standard for ozone. Despite increased efforts to reduce ozone, we continue to exceed the standard in five parishes that encompass the Greater Baton Rouge urban area.
Recent trends analyses show a steady improvement in air quality in the Baton Rouge area.
In 1999, that number had dropped to 2 exceedance days. It suggests that controls such as regulations on industry and mobile sources, transportation controls, and the voluntary public Ozone Action Program are working in the battle to reduce ozone and its risk to public health. Please join the team and do your part to help reduce ozone. Copyright 1990-2001 Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality. All Rights Reserved.