So Cal in Worse Smog Season in Years with 58 Days Exceeding Federal Standards

“This one” is the worst smog season in Southern California in nearly a decade.

So far we have endured 58 days that exceeded the federal health standard for lung-irritating ozone, the hallmark pollutant of summer smog. And the worst is still ahead of us. Typically, just about every day in July and August fails to meet the standard of no more 70 parts per billion of ozone averaged over eight hours.

Ironically, emissions from cars, trucks, locomotives, factories, and a multitude other urban sources are estimated to be lower this year because as cleaner machines go into service, more higher-polluting ones are scrapped, said Sam Atwood, a spokesman for the South Coast Air Quality Management District.

He blamed the bad smog season so far on this spring’s repeated bouts of unseasonably hot and stagnant weather. During June, we had one heat wave after another.

Ozone forms when nitrogen oxides, mostly from vehicles, react with volatile organic compounds, such as fumes from gasoline, nail polish and rubbing alcohol. Heat and sunshine amp up this chemical reaction to create higher ozone levels.

When inhaled, ozone attacks moist tissues in noses, throats and lungs. Short-term effects include headaches, nausea, runny noses, and lung function, which for people like Jakpor can trigger asthma attacks severe enough to be hospitalized. Long-terms effects include more early deaths.

On hot stagnant days, ozone concentrations pretty much rise as the sun rises and they peak in the early to later afternoon hours. The levels then drop dramatically at night, and the lowest readings are just before sunrise.

Read Full Article Here: http://www.pe.com/2017/06/30/h...