Southern Air Still Suffering from Smog

New standards released by the Environmental Protection Agency show that more cities than ever before in the South have unhealthy levels of ozone.

The EPA’s new ozone standard, released in March 2008, goes further to protect the public’s health from ozone pollution, but falls short of the recommendations of public health professionals and EPA’s own scientists, who recommended stronger protections.

In the South, smaller cities such as Asheville, Macon, Charlottesville and Johnson City will likely be added to the list of metropolitan areas with an unhealthy quality of air, while cities such as Atlanta, Raleigh, Charlotte, Knoxville and Birmingham are expected to remain in violation of the federal standard. Areas of nonattainment will face deadlines to reach the new standard or risk federal sanctions, including tighter smokestack controls and the loss of federal highway funding.

The Threat of Ozone:

Ozone pollution, also known as smog, is known to trigger asthma attacks, reduce lung capacity, and has been linked to heart disease. During the summer months, officials are often forced to warn children and the elderly to stay indoors. Children, whose respiratory systems are still developing, risk permanent loss of lung capacity due to prolonged exposure to polluted air. For senior citizens, the natural decline in lung function that occurs with age is exacerbated by high ozone levels.

In addition to coal-fired power plants, cars and trucks are among the biggest sources of ozone pollution in the South. To improve air quality, the South must focus on strategies to reduce how much and how far its citizens drive, investing in transportation alternatives and coordinating transportation and land use planning in order to reduce sprawl.