Cool summer means better air

Along with easy living, the summer breeze blew in easy breathing. Through June, July and… Along with easy living, the summer breeze blew in easy breathing. Through June, July and August, in particular, Pittsburgh experienced a peculiar weather pattern, according to Rich Kane of the National Weather Service. As a result, the number of air quality action days indicating harmful concentrations of ground-level ozone decreased, and people at risk from ozone and fine particulate pollution ‘mdash; children, the elderly and those with respiratory diseases ‘mdash; were better able to enjoy the warm weather without worry. This past summer provided cool and dry conditions, especially during August when the average temperature was less than average at 69.7, and the rain left town for days, Kane confirmed. ‘There were less air quality action days, in part because it was a generally cool summer,’ said Sean Nolan of the Southwest Pennsylvania Air Quality Partnership. ‘It was a much better summer than last summer.’ From June through August, there were 13 ozone action days, down from 25 in 2007, and four fine particulate action days, down from 14. August experienced only one air quality action day. ‘Ozone is a summertime phenomenon,’ said Nolan. When pollutants produced from the burning of fossil fuels and the evaporation of chemicals come into contact with heat and sunlight, ground-level ozone pollution forms. As summer temperatures climb, ozone is produced more quickly. Breathing high levels of ozone poses a risk to health. Immediate health problems include coughing, asthma attacks, increased susceptibility to respiratory infections, pulmonary inflammation and increased need for people with lung diseases to receive medical treatment, according to the American Lung Association. Pittsburgh’s problem is not ozone alone. This year, Allegheny County ranked second on the Lung Association’s list of counties most polluted by fine particulates annually. The lungs react more strongly when breathing ozone with sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide, two pollutants common in eastern United States. ‘ ‘Fine particle pollution does cause premature death,’ said Eric Schaeffer of the Environmental Integrity Project. Some forms of fine particle pollution occur naturally, such as forest fires and the breaking down of rocks resulting in dust. But the chemical formation of particles from industry, cars and trucks harms humans. ‘Particles created chemically are much tinier, as tiny as one-thirtieth the width of a human hair,’ said Janice Nolen of the Lung Association. ‘Some are so tiny that they can pass through the lungs and get into the bloodstream.’ ‘ Year-round exposure to particle pollution can cause asthma complications, damage to the lungs and increased risk of death from lung cancer and cardiovascular disease, said Nolen. ‘Residents in the Pittsburgh area should be very concerned,’ said Schaeffer.’ ‘ Schaeffer estimates that 30 to 35 percent of Pittsburgh’s fine particle pollution comes from coal-fired power plants. The hundreds of companies, schools, hospitals and other institutions make up another part of Pittsburgh’s fine particle pollution problem. ‘Pollutants will always be in the air,’ said Jayme Graham, the air quality planning manager of the Allegheny Health Department. She also said that there are projects in place to lower pollution levels across the region.