Despite high temps, region's ozone level stays down

Despite hot, muggy days and relatively warm summer lows, ozone levels in Southeast Missouri are holding at reasonable levels.

Given the above-average temperatures the region has been experiencing, this is particularly good news.

Ground-level ozone is created when pollution from vehicles, industry and naturally occurring gases combines with heat and sunlight.

This means summer in particular leaves the environment susceptible to high levels. But despite increased heat, there has been little fluctuation in design-value ozone levels — the rolling average of the fourth-highest reading for three years.

High levels of ozone are not only detrimental to the environment, David Grimes, deputy director of the SEMO Regional Planning Commission said, but also create problems for the local economy. The Environmental Protection Agency has created standards for ground-level ozone.

Should a region’s design-value levels exceed 70 parts per billion (ppb), it risks being labeled as a “nonattainment area,” which subjects industries to costly and strict permitting and process-review regulations.

The standard of 70 ppb is a relatively new one, brought down from 75 ppb implemented less than a year ago.

There was concern new regulations would be more difficult to meet, but thus far, the monitor in Perry County has recorded only one day over the limit.

And while the presumptive boundaries of the monitor in Perry County end at Perry County, surrounding regions are not impervious to regulations.

Grimes said the Department of Natural Resources and EPA could expand the boundaries as “contributing” to the bad monitor reading.

For now, Grimes said, the region is on a good path.

“At this point, we’re not in danger. But if we get a few bad days, we could be looking at nonattainment designation,” Grimes said.

Because the EPA bases its nonattainment ranking on a three-year average of the fourth highest ozone level, just a few days over the limit could be detrimental to the region’s standing.

Grimes is relatively confident the region will maintain its current rating.

“Right now, we’re doing OK,” Grimes said.

Many factors affect ozone levels, but for the relatively rural Southeast Missouri, what the region can do to help keep levels down is adopt simple lifestyle changes.

“We don’t have any low-hanging fruit,” Grimes said, pointing out while metropolitan areas may have many gas-emitting industries such as manufacturing plants and dry cleaners, in Southeast Missouri, there are so few, their existence doesn’t affect the ozone significantly.

“What you can do is do what you can,” Grimes said.

Drivers should not top off their gas tanks when filling up.

More detrimental to the ozone than driving emissions is the possibility of a fuel spill.

Along the same lines, Grimes suggests homeowners mow their lawns in the evening.

Without the filters and emission regulations of a car, lawn mowers put more harmful chemicals into the air. And by waiting until evening, what is emitted into the air will have a chance to disperse before the next high heat.

Drivers should keep their cars tuned up and avoid idling.

If Southeast Missourians will do these few things, Grimes said, “we’ll make a dent.”

bbrown@semissourian.com

(573) 388-3630

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This summer has been a hot one. More so than usual. According to the National Weather Service, average temperatures in the region have run two to three degrees above normal in 2016.

And this trend is likely to continue.

“There’s no significant relief through the month of August as far as heat is concerned,” said Robin Smith, a National Weather Service meteorologist.

But it’s not only been warm, Smith said.

“The biggest issue we’ve been having is humidity that’s been dominating us for so long,” he said.

The moisture can be felt in the heavy midday air, but also on the ground each morning, after excessive dew collects overnight.

The humidity contributes to higher temperatures the region has been experiencing.

The air, saturated with water vapor, can’t cool easily, even overnight, and it’s led to morning lows that are four to five degrees higher than average.

“We simply have too much moisture in the air, which is why morning lows have been above normal,” Smith said.

Southeast Missourian