Ozone

The Issue
Ozone is a gas that occurs both in the Earth's upper atmosphere and at ground level where it is a key component of urban smog. Ground-level ozone triggers a variety of health problems even at very low levels, may cause permanent lung damage after long-term exposure, and damages plants and ecosystems.

Peak ozone levels typically occur during hot, dry, stagnant summertime conditions. Millions of Americans live in areas where ozone levels exceed EPA's health-based air quality standards, primarily in parts of the Northeast, the Lake Michigan area, parts of the Southeast, southeastern Texas, and parts of California. Peak ozone levels typically occur during hot, dry, stagnant summertime conditions.

EPA Action
EPA's ozone research efforts are focused on improving emissions estimates, determining health and ecological effects, and improving modeling capabilities. EPA's National Center for Environmental Assessment periodically evaluates the latest research concerning the public health and welfare effects of ozone and publishes the Air Quality Criteria Document for Ozone. This document provides the scientific basis for the establishment of national air quality standards.

The latest version of the Air Quality Criteria Document for Ozone was published in March 2006. Air quality criteria documents are vetted through a rigorous peer review process, including review by the Clean Air Scientific Advisory Council and public comment periods.

Related Links

• Basic information about ozone
• Ozone research at EPA
• Ozone regulations
• National Ozone Air Quality Forecasts
• Clean Air Act

History

Mar 2006	Air Quality Criteria Document for Ozone and Related Photochemical Oxidants (Final) released.
Aug 2005	Air Quality Criteria for Ozone and Related Photochemical Oxidants (Second External Review Draft) published.
Jan 2005	Air Quality Criteria for Ozone and Related Photochemical Oxidants (First External Review Draft) published.
Nov 2002	Project Work Plan for Revised Air Quality Criteria for Ozone and Related Photochemical Oxidants (CASAC Review Draft) released.
Dec 2001	Project Work Plan for Revised Air Quality Criteria for Ozone and Related Photochemical Oxidants (External Review Draft) released.
1996	Air Quality Criteria for Ozone and Related Photochemical Oxidants (Final) published.
1994	Air Quality Criteria for Ozone and Related Photochemical Oxidants, Chapters 1 and 9 published.
1993	Air Quality Criteria for Ozone and Related Photochemical Oxidants, Volumes I-III (External Review Draft) published.

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Additional Resources

Yocom, J., A. Stankunas, AND F. Bradow. A Review of Air Pollutant Damage to Materials. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research and Development, National Center For Environmental Assessment, Research Triangle Park Office, Research Triangle Park, NC, EPA/600/8-82/016 (NTIS PB82242090), 1982.

U.S. EPA. A Review of the Impact of Climate Variability and Change on Aeroallergens and Their Associated Effects on Human Morbidity and Mortality in the U.S. (External Review Draft). U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC, EPA/600/R-06/164F, 2006.

U.S. EPA. A Review of the Impact of Climate Variability and Change on Aeroallergens and Their Associated Effects (Final Report). U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC, EPA/600/R-06/164F.

Garner, J., R. Elias, J. Davis, AND F. Bradow. Air Pollution Effects on Terrestrial Ecosystems. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, D.C., EPA/600/6-83/003, 1983.

U.S. EPA. Air Quality Criteria for Ozone and Related Photochemical Oxidants (Final). U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC, EPA/600/R-05/004aF-cF, 2006.

U.S. EPA. Air Quality Criteria for Ozone and Related Photochemical Oxidants, Chapters 1 and 9. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC, EPA 600/AP-93/004D (NTIS 94-173150), 1994.

U.S. EPA. Air Quality Criteria for Ozone and Related Photochemical Oxidants, Volumes I-III, External Review Draft. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC, 1993.

U.S. EPA. Assessment of the Impacts of Global Change on Regional U.S. Air Quality (External Review Draft). U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC, EPA/600/R-07/094.

Grant, L. AND B. Jordan. Basis for Primary Air Quality Criteria and Standards. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, D.C., EPA/600/D-88/045 (NTIS PB88180070), 1988.

Tilton, B. AND S. Meeks. Concentrations and Patterns of Photochemical Oxidants in the U.S. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, D.C., EPA/600/D-88/239 (NTIS PB89136683), 1989.

DeRosa, C., R. Hertzberg, S. Rosenthal, C. Sonich, AND V. Vaughan-Dellarco. Health Assessment Document for Carbon Tetrachloride. Final Report. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, D.C., EPA/600/8-82/001F (NTIS PB85124196).

U.S. EPA. Health Risk Perspectives on Fuel Oxygenates. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, D.C., 1994.

Hattis, D., A. Russ, R. Goble, P. Banati, AND M. Chu. Human Interindividual Variability in Susceptibility to Airborne Particles. , RISK ANALYSIS.

Lee, S. AND J. Kawecki. International Approaches to Developing Standards for Noncriteria Pollutants. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, D.C., EPA/600/J-88/568 (NTIS PB91191403).

Marcus, A. Multivariate Statistical Models for Effects of PM and Copollutants in a Daily Time Series Epidemiology Study. Presented at Third Colloquium on Particulate Air Pollution and Human Health, June 6-8, 1999.

Schein, O. D., B. Munoz, C. Vincencio, S. West, D. Duncan, AND K. N. Gelatt. Ocular and Dermatologic Health Effects of Ultraviolet Exposure from the Ozone Hole Over Southern Chile: A Pilot Project. Presented at 21st Annual Meeting of the American Society for Photobiology, June 26-30, 1993.

U.S. EPA. Project Work Plan for Revised Air Quality Criteria for Ozone and Related Photochemical Oxidants (CASAC Review Draft). U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research and Development, National Center For Environmental Assessment, Research Triangle Park Office, Research Triangle Park, NC, NCEA-R-1068, 2002.

U.S. EPA. Project Work Plan for Revised Air Quality Criteria for Ozone and Related Photochemical Oxidants (External Review Draft). U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research and Development, National Center For Environmental Assessment, Research Triangle Park Office, Research Triangle Park, NC, NCEA-R-1068, 2001.

U.S. EPA. Provisional Assessment of Recent Studies on Particulate Matter. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC, EPA/600/R-06/063, 2006.

U.S. EPA. Research Needed to Improve Health and Ecological Risk Assessments for Ozone (Second External Review Draft). U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research and Development, National Center For Environmental Assessment, Research Triangle Park Office, Research Triangle Park, NC, 2001.

Tilton, B. AND R. Bruce. Review of Criteria for Vapor-Phase Hydrocarbons. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, D.C., EPA/600/8-81/022 (NTIS PB82136516).

Hanna, A., R. Mathur, J. C. Jang, AND J. P. Pinto. Seasonal Modeling of the Export of Pollutants from North America Using the Multi-Scale Air Quality Simulation Platform (MAQSIP). Presented at Center for International Earth Science Information Network, Palisades, NY, June 12-15, 2001.

U.S. EPA. Spatial Variation in Ozone Concentrations in Phoenix, Az for 1997..

Costa, D., L. Folinsbee, J. Raub, B. Tilton, AND D. Tingey. Summary of Selected New Information on Effects of Ozone on Health and Vegetation: Supplement to 1986 Air Quality Criteria for Ozone and Other Photochemical Oxidants. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, D.C., EPA/600/8-88/105F (NTIS PB92235670).