[ADEQ Media] ADEQ Extends Ozone High Pollution Advisories Through Saturday, June 14 and Sunday, June 15

[media@lists.azdeq.gov]

ADEQ Extends Ozone High Pollution Advisories
Through Saturday, June 14 and Sunday, June 15

PHOENIX (June 13, 2008) -- The Arizona Department of Environmental
Quality has extended a High Pollution Advisory (HPA) for the Phoenix
metropolitan area through Saturday, June 14 and Sunday, June 15. 

Forecast weather conditions are expected to generate levels of ozone
that may exceed the federal health standard. These will be the eighth
and ninth HPAs issued for ozone this year and the second weekend in
which ADEQ has issued HPAs this season. 

ADEQ recommends that children and adults with respiratory problems avoid
outdoor activities this weekend and suggests that the general public
limit outdoor activity. 

Valley residents should reduce ozone-producing emissions by taking the
following steps: 

*	Drive as little as possible; car pool, use mass transit or
telecommute. For information on transportation alternatives, visit
Valley Metro: www.valleymetro.org 
*	Avoid using gas-powered lawn and garden equipment. 
*	Refuel vehicles after 4 p.m. 
*	Avoid idling your vehicle. 
*	Make sure your car's tires are properly inflated and your wheels
are aligned. 
*	Be careful not to spill gasoline when filling up your car or
gasoline-powered lawn and garden equipment. 
*	Seal containers of household cleaners, workshop chemicals and
solvents and garden chemicals to prevent gases from evaporating into the
air. 
*	Dispose of containers properly. 

"Before this season, we had never issued an ozone HPA for weekend days,"
said ADEQ Director Steve Owens, "but this is the second weekend so far
this season that we have issued HPAs because of the new federal ozone
standard and the weather conditions we have been experiencing. We urge
Valley residents to take steps to help reduce emissions that lead to the
formation of ozone."

Ground-level ozone pollution is caused by the interaction of sunlight
with the many pollutants generated by automobiles, gasoline-powered lawn
equipment and other sources. Ozone can irritate the respiratory system,
reduce lung function, aggravate asthma and other chronic lung conditions
and inflame and damage the cells that line the lungs. Repeated
short-term ozone damage to children's developing lungs may lead to
reduced lung function in adulthood.  


Daily air quality forecasts are available on ADEQ's Web site at
http://azdeq.gov/environ/air/ozone/ensemble.pdf or by telephone at (602)
771-2367. 
To get the air quality forecast via email, subscribe to our daily
forecast list: www.azdeq.gov/subscribe.html. You can also sign up for
HPA text-message alerts: www.azdeq.gov/sms.html

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News media interested in additional information on this or any other
topic concerning the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality should
contact the Office of Communications at (602) 771-2215 or via email at
communications@azdeq.gov.

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