Bad Air Day? Check the EPA Online
This E-government Web site from the EPA may help us all breath a little easier this summer. (Try other E-government Web Sites)
Higher summertime levels of air polluting ozone from cars and industry can cause even healthy people to suffer from shortness of breath, headaches, nausea and eye irritation. For children, the elderly, people with other respiratory problems, and people who work outdoors, the effects can even be life-threatening.
Sadly, "bad air day" forecasts have become standard TV weather fare in most urban and even not-so-urban areas of America.
Persons who are particularly vulnerable to the effects of ozone need very accurate and up-to-date information to help them decide when and if to conduct outdoor activities. Similarly, local authorities need accurate ozone forecasts in order to issue warnings and initiate air quality emergency response plans.
The EPA's new AirNow Web site provides current information about ozone levels for the current and next day in your area. Visitors can get real-time, accurate and easy to understand data including:
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Maps showing current and forecasted air pollution levels in selected cities and states |
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Recommended health precautions (when warranted) for sensitive and non-sensitive populations, based upon the most recent scientific information |
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General explanations of the health effects related to air pollution |
Also available on the AirNow site are animated ozone level maps showing 8-hour ozone concentration levels for many locations. EPA hopes to soon have cities in all 50 states covered by the ozone mapping system.
For longer term information, visit the EPA' AIRSdata Web site. You can check levels of individual pollutants and their changes over time by city, county or state. The site is updated monthly and is the source of answers to some classic physical science homework questions like:
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What was the most common air pollutant measured in my county last month? |
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Have ambient air measurements increased, decreased, or remained unchanged over the past five years? |
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Are there major sources of air pollution in my county? |
Both the AirNow and AIRSdata sites are the work of EPA's Environmental Monitoring for Public Access and Community Tracking (EMPACT) project. By the end of 2001, EMPACT hopes to be able to deliver timely information about all aspects of the environment to millions of people in America's metropolitan areas.
For more information and real-time data on environmental topics, visit the EPA’s Internet site, or call Chet Wayland, Group Leader at EPA’s Information Transfer Group, at (919) 541-4603. (For technical information or user support from EPA, call (800) 367-1044 or (800) 334-2405.)
Reference Links
EnviroMapper
Select an area for detailed maps showing all pollution dangers for that location. Another project of the EPA's EMPACT team.Plain English Guide to the Clean Air Act
42 U.S.C. s/s 7401 et seq. (1970) translated from government-speak into near-human.National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA)
NEPA is the basic national charter for protection of the environment. It establishes policy, sets goals, and provides means for carrying out the policy.
Other E-government Web Sites
Links to even more examples of how the Internet is bring the government of the people to the people. From your About Guide.
More resources dealing with pollution, atomic waste and the environment in general from your About Guide.
Links to information about health issues related to ozone depletion, from your About guide to the Environment Patricia Michaels.
Ozone, EPA says its a pollutant, so why is it advertised as an air cleaner, from your About Asthma Guide John Neil Rhoades.
About guide to the Environment Patricia Michaels has compiled an impressive list of Internet articles and resources on all forms of air pollution and related health issues.
You bet the environment is a political hot-button. Find out where the candidates stand from About Politics Guide John Aravosis.
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