Changes in Air Pollution Standards Could Affect Hillsborough County

Proposed new air quality standards could result in more pollution advisories for residents with respiratory conditions.

According to Reggie Sanford of the Hillsborough County Environmental Protection, the federal Environmental Protection Agency is considering lowering the standards from 75 parts per billion of ozone pollutants to 60 to 70 parts per billion.

If the EPA changes the standards, two-thirds of Florida will be in violation, he said.

“Exposure to air pollution can lead to serious respiratory conditions,” said Sanford. “It can irritate cardiovascular tissue, block airways and complicate asthma, emphysema and other respiratory conditions.

When an ozone advisory is issued, residents with respiratory conditions are advised to limit their outdoor activities. Unhealthy ozone levels were reported May 11, May 20 and June 17.

Hillsborough County monitors three air pollutants: sulfur dioxide, ozone and lead, he explained.

Sanford said the sulfur dioxide in Hillsborough County’s air is coming from an industrial source in south county, and he said that problem is currently being addressed.

Ozone is generated through the reaction of certain chemicals from vehicles and industrial sources to sunlight.

“The federal regulation of ozone has been going on for some time,” said Sanford. “In last 20 years, the standard has been reduced by 50 percent and the EPA is considering lowering it to 60-70 parts per billion in July.”

In the past, he said the major source of lead was gasoline but lead was removed from gasoline in 1979 so now the major source of lead is industrial processes.

“There is no safe level of lead in the body,” said Sanford. “It impairs the development of central nervous systems in kids. As a result, the EPA requires monitors in places we didn’t have them before. Our current problem surrounds a lead recycling facility, EnviroFocus Technologies in East Tampa, and Johnson Controls, also in East Tampa, which recycles batteries.

But Sanford said EnvironFocus is spending more than $100 million to upgrade its plant to reduce lead emissions.

Overall, said Sanford, pollution levels in Tampa Bay are declining but it appears there is more pollution because the current standards are higher. Those levels will increase further if the EPA lowers its standard to 60 to 70 parts per billion, he said.

If that happens, he said the county may qualify for special federal funding to reduce transportation congestions, mandate cleaner gasoline and impose more expensive emissions controls on industries that pollute.

“The air quality in Hillsborough County is actually pretty good,” said Sanford. “We’ve had only three unhealthy days in the past five years and that was due mostly to forest fires.”

County Commissioner Sandy Murman, however, said she’s been getting a number of complaints about air quality in south Hillsborough County. The EPC previously had an air-monitoring station at Apollo Beach Elementary School, which was discontinued when the numbers showed no quality problems with the air in the area. She asked that the station be reactivated.