Victoria Television Group 3808 N. Navarro
Victoria, TX 77901
Phone: 361 575-2500
Fax: 361 575-2255
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Taking Action Against Ozone
Written by Shannon Dillon
Friday, 05 September 2008
WHEN TEMPERATURES RISE, SO DO THE CHANCES THAT OZONE LEVELS WILL INCREASE. AND FEW RAIN SHOWERS IN VICTORIA IN RECENT DAYS HAVEN'T HELPED REDUCE THE POSSIBILITY OF OZONE FORMING. "We are a near non-attainment area which means we do have ozone problems," says Victoria Environmental Services Coordinator, Marie Lester. A LACK OF WIND, ALONG WITH HEAT THAT MIXES WITH POLLUTION HAPPENS THEN...OUR AIR QUALITY NUMBERS START TO CHANGE. AIR QUALITY IS MEASURED ON A SCALE OF 0 TO 300, PERSISTENT HOT AND DRY WEATHER CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED TO MOVE THE LEVELS OF OZONE IN VICTORIA FROM THE GOOD TO MODERATE RANGE ON THE INDEX. BUT SOME OF THAT SHIFT IS CAUSED BY CONTROLLABLE FACTORS. "Most of the pollution in Victoria comes from our vehicles," says Lester.
THAT'S ABOUT 54 %OF POLLUTION PRODUCED WHEN OUR VEHICLES ARE LEFT IDLING, OR AREN'T MAINTAINED. FURTHER CONTRIBUTING TO OZONE PROBLEMS, AND OZONE LEVELS MOVING OUT OF THE GOOD RANGE.
"When you go outside it can affect sensitive groups such as people with lung disease or asthma or other respiratory illnesses" says Lester.
THAT'S WHY VICTORIA ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES OFFICIALS ALERT THE COMMUNITY WHEN OZONE ACTION DAYS ARE PUT INTO PLACE, BY THE TEXAS COMMISSION ON ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY.
THOSE DAYS ARE DESIGNATED TO GET THE COMMUNITY INVOLVED IN THE RESPONSIBILTY OF-PROTECTING OURSELVES AND OUR AIR QUALITY.
