Nine professional and one administrative support staff, along with one OPS employee, provide public service for this program in the South District. The Air Quality Index is a good tool for the Department to evaluate air quality. The index is calculated using a variety of different standards.
Ozone is the primary ingredient of smog.
Prior to demolition or renovation activities, the South District receives an asbestos notification form . Symptoms of short-term exposure to high levels of ozone include sore throat, chest pain, breathing difficulty, coughing and headaches. Persons most sensitive to the effects of ozone are individuals who have pre-existing respiratory or heart conditions, children, the elderly, and persons who exercise or work outdoors for a length of time. As a criteria pollutant, the federal Clean Air Act directs EPA to establish a health-based standard for an acceptable level of ozone in the atmosphere. The new federal standard for ozone has been established at a level equivalent to 85 parts per billion averaged over any 8-hour period.