NEWS & EVENTS : GENERAL INFORMATION
Hot summer weather exacerbating ozone pollution
09.26.2013
Unusually high temperatures this summer may be contributing to poor air quality in many European cities. Thresholds to protect health from ground-level ozone have been exceeded across Europe in recent weeks, according to preliminary data reported to the European Environment Agency (EEA).
climatlantic //
Ozone pollution has serious effects on health, especially for older people and children, or those with asthma and other respiratory problems. Reducing ozone pollution in the air depends on cutting the ‘precursor pollutants’ which lead to ozone formation.
When ozone levels in the air exceed certain thresholds – either the ‘Information Threshold’ or the higher ‘Alert Threshold’ – Member States must report such ‘exceedances’ to the European Commission, via the EEA, and inform their citizens.
Paul McAleavey, Head of EEA Air and Climate Change Programme, said: ‘Ozone formation increases during warm sunny weather depending on the level of ‘precursor pollutants’ present. Europe must therefore work hard to reduce the emissions of pollutants that cause ozone to protect human health’.
For more information:
http://www.eea.europa.eu/highlights/hot-summer-weather-exacerbating-ozone-pollution
