Air Quality and Health and Welfare
2.2 Ozone
2.2.3 Public Health Concerns from Prolonged and Repeated Exposures to Low Levels of Ozone
A large body of scientific literature regarding health and welfare effects of ozone has associated health effects with certain patterns of ozone exposures that do not include any hourly ozone concentration above the 0.12 parts per million (ppm) level of the 1-hour US NAAQS. The science indicates that there are health effects attributable to prolonged and repeated exposures to lower ozone concentrations. Studies of 6 to 8 hour exposures showed health effects from prolonged and repeated exposures at moderate levels of exertion to ozone concentrations as low as 0.08 ppm.
Studies of acute health effects have shown transient pulmonary function responses, transient respiratory symptoms, effects on exercise performance, increased airway responsiveness, increased susceptibility to respiratory infection, increased hospital and emergency room visits, and transient pulmonary respiratory inflammation. Such acute health effects have been observed following prolonged exposures at moderate levels of exertion at concentrations of ozone well below the current standard of 0.12 ppm. The effects are more pronounced at concentrations above 0.09 ppm, affecting more subjects or having a greater effect on a given subject in terms of functional changes or symptoms.
With regard to chronic health effects, the collective data have many ambiguities, but provide suggestive evidence of chronic effects in humans. There is a biologically plausible basis for considering the possibility that repeated inflammation associated with exposure to ozone over a lifetime, as can occur with prolonged exposure to moderate ozone levels below peak levels, may result in sufficient damage to respiratory tissue that individuals later in life may experience a reduced quality of life, although such relationships remain highly uncertain.
In addition to the effects on human health, ozone is known to adversely affect the environment in many ways. These effects include reduced yield for commodity crops, for fruits and vegetables, and commercial forests; ecosystem and vegetation effects in such areas as National Parks (Class I areas); damage to urban grass, flowers, shrubs, and trees; reduced yield in tree seedlings and non-commercial forests; increased susceptibility of plants to pests; materials damage; and visibility.
In addition to their contribution to ozone levels, emissions of NMHC contain toxic air pollutants that may have a significant effect on the public health, as discussed below.
Studies of acute health effects have shown transient pulmonary function responses, transient respiratory symptoms, effects on exercise performance, increased airway responsiveness, increased susceptibility to respiratory infection, increased hospital and emergency room visits, and transient pulmonary respiratory inflammation. Such acute health effects have been observed following prolonged exposures at moderate levels of exertion at concentrations of ozone well below the current standard of 0.12 ppm. The effects are more pronounced at concentrations above 0.09 ppm, affecting more subjects or having a greater effect on a given subject in terms of functional changes or symptoms.
With regard to chronic health effects, the collective data have many ambiguities, but provide suggestive evidence of chronic effects in humans. There is a biologically plausible basis for considering the possibility that repeated inflammation associated with exposure to ozone over a lifetime, as can occur with prolonged exposure to moderate ozone levels below peak levels, may result in sufficient damage to respiratory tissue that individuals later in life may experience a reduced quality of life, although such relationships remain highly uncertain.
In addition to the effects on human health, ozone is known to adversely affect the environment in many ways. These effects include reduced yield for commodity crops, for fruits and vegetables, and commercial forests; ecosystem and vegetation effects in such areas as National Parks (Class I areas); damage to urban grass, flowers, shrubs, and trees; reduced yield in tree seedlings and non-commercial forests; increased susceptibility of plants to pests; materials damage; and visibility.
In addition to their contribution to ozone levels, emissions of NMHC contain toxic air pollutants that may have a significant effect on the public health, as discussed below.
