TUCSON, Ariz. (AP) - The Tucson metro area’s air is suffering its worst ozone pollution since 2012.
The Arizona Daily Star reports (https://bit.ly/2sKacRk ) the region has exceeded federal standards for ground-level ozone five times this year.
Beth Gorman, a Pima County environmental quality manager, says officials don’t know exactly why the ozone levels are so high, but typically, extended high-pressure weather systems are a major cause, along with intense solar radiation.
The Environmental Protection Agency states ozone is created by a mixture of air emissions that occurs during intense sunlight and can trigger a variety of health problems.
The pollution puts the county’s air in jeopardy of violating the agency’s standards, although a determination of whether it’s in violation may not come for some time.
Ursula Nelson, the Pima County Department of Environmental Quality director, says officials are “absolutely” concerned.
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Information from: Arizona Daily Star, https://www.tucson.com
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