Smog season starting out worse than last year

By Larry Hartstein

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

It's shaping up as a tougher smog season this year.

Last year, metro Atlanta had only 16 days in which air quality exceeded ozone standards. But Tuesday was forecast to be the sixth smog day of 2010 already. Smog season runs from May through September.

"The good thing about last year, we had a lot of precipitation, broke the drought and it cooled off temperatures and washed away some of the ground-level ozone," said Brian Carr, the Clean Air Campaign's communications director. "This year we've had a lot more warmer temperatures."

Light morning showers on Tuesday were welcome on a day with a Code Orange smog alert.

Orange means the air was projected to be unhealthy for sensitive groups. Children, adults sensitive to ozone, and people with heart or lung disease should limit prolonged exertion during late afternoon and early evening hours when ozone levels are highest.

The forecasted air quality index was 101, the lowest figure that triggers a smog alert. The campaign issues a Code Orange alert when the forecast ranges from 101 to 150; a Code Red alert occurs when the forecast is 151 to 200.

This year, metro Atlanta has recorded five days when air quality was considered unhealthy, compared to just two smog days by this date last year. The state Environmental Protection Division has not yet confirmed whether Tuesday qualified as the sixth smog day of 2010.

Clean Air Campaign officials called 2009 a "remarkably good smog season," with 16 unhealthy days compared to 29 the year before.

To improve air quality, the Clean Air Campaign recommends alternatives to driving alone. These include carpooling, vanpooling, mass transit, teleworking, biking and walking.

In metro Atlanta, half of all smog-forming emissions come from the tailpipes of cars. Sunlight and warm temperatures drive air pollutants to react to form ozone, a principal component of smog.

For more information, log on to cleanaircampaign.org.