The project will be directed by Dr. Pat Owens, Professor of Chemistry at Winthrop University. Dr. Owens is currently Vice-Chair of the Mecklenburg County Environmental Protection Commission and a member of the air quality team for the Voices and Choices regional smart growth initiative. Hydrocarbons and nitrogen oxides are the two primary precursors for summertime ozone production. While state and federal agencies have focused recent efforts on controlling nitrogen oxides, there is less known about the effect of hydrocarbon concentrations on ozone production. A recent study published by Sonoma Technology Inc. provides evidence that ozone production in this region may be driven more by hydrocarbons than by nitrogen oxides.
Ozone adversely affects respiratory health.
In the Carolinas, a large number of emergency room visits for respiratory difficulties are directly attributable to high ozone levels that occur during the summer. Summertime ozone levels have significantly risen over the past five years. In a research presentation by Winthrop chemistry student Jenny Perry to the NC DAQ last August, the rise in ozone production was correlated with increases in traffic and growth in the region.