State Environment Secretary Wayne McDevitt and Transportation Secretary Norris Tolson will lead off the opening event for the Triangle Air Awareness Program starting at 6 p.m. Wednesday, just before the Bulls game. The Air Awareness Program is a voluntary effort that helped reduce ozone in Charlotte and the Triad in 1997 and is being expanded to the Triangle this year. The state Division of Air Quality is operating the Triangle program with the Triangle J Council of Governments. Ozone, a highly reactive form of oxygen, is the primary pollutant in smog. It can be unhealthful to breathe, particularly among children, the elderly and people with asthma or other respiratory problems.
Ozone also can damage plants and reduce crop yields.
The Air Awareness Program helps curb smog levels through pollution forecasts, media alerts and notifications to participating businesses. Participants voluntarily agree to help reduce emissions of smog-forming pollutants on high ozone days. For instance, businesses encourage or offer incentives to their employees to car-pool, ride buses to work, eat lunch at their offices, or take other actions that reduce driving. Air Awareness organizers will distribute free water bottles, brochures and coloring books about air pollution to people who attend the opening of the Triangle program at Durham Bulls Athletic Park. Fans also can see special exhibits relating to air quality on the stadium's second floor concourse.