Massachusetts Begins Seasonal Ozone Forecasts,
Launches 'MassAir Online' Real-Time Air Quality Monitoring Web Site

The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) today resumes seasonal air quality forecasting for ground-level ozone - the main contributor to smoggy days in warmer weather. This year, an enhanced web site feature - MassAir Online - has been added that allows users to point and click on a map of the state to find current, near real-time air quality data for any location in the MassDEP air monitoring network. 

"MassDEP has been issuing daily air quality forecasts to the public for decades, helping to inform citizens - especially those in sensitive groups - about impending health problems posed by polluted air," said MassDEP Commissioner Laurie Burt. "Starting today, with MassAir Online, we are able to provide residents with a more timely and interactive feature that includes continuous air quality information from all our monitoring stations across the Commonwealth." 

Found at: www.mass.gov/dep/air/, MassAir Online uses a familiar Google Maps(r) interface and color coding to display relative health risks from ozone and fine particles and other significant pollutants measured at 21 monitoring locations across Massachusetts. 

Developed through a grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the enhanced web site also features:

* User-customizable graphs that display hourly data for the most recent two days and daily values for the last week, month and year by monitoring site and pollutant - making it possible to identify air quality trends in a particular location or region.

* A comprehensive data download tool that makes current and historic Massachusetts air monitoring data easily accessible for research. 

* Helpful information on air pollutants and standards, health and environmental effects, and long-term air quality trends. 

MassDEP issues seasonal ozone forecasts from early April through the end of September and provides year-round fine particle pollution forecasts.

Ground-level ozone is created when hydrocarbons - the main ingredients in gasoline and solvents - chemically react on hot, sunny days with nitrogen oxides, a group of pollutants produced through fuel combustion. Fine particles - essentially soot, dust and liquid droplets from vehicles, industry and wood-burning - can reach unhealthy concentrations at any time of year. Summer is when fine particle concentrations tend to be highest, often on the same days when ozone concentrations are high.

Ozone affects everyone, but some people are more sensitive than others. Numerous scientific studies have linked ozone exposure to coughing and throat irritation; increased sensitivity to allergens; uncomfortable sensations in the chest; lung lining inflammation; and reduced lung function. When ground-level ozone reaches unhealthy levels, children are the group at highest risk because they tend to spend a lot of time playing outdoors in warmer weather and are more likely to have asthma. People with respiratory diseases also are vulnerable, even at lower ozone levels. 

Numerous scientific studies have linked fine particles with asthma and chronic bronchitis, coughing, chest tightness, shortness of breath and heart attacks. Those most susceptible to health problems when fine particle levels are high are children, because their lungs are still developing; the elderly, particularly those with or prone to cardiovascular disease; and people with asthma or other respiratory ailments.

Otherwise healthy adults who exert themselves during periods of elevated ozone and/or fine particle concentrations also may be affected because they tend to breathe more rapidly and deeply while working or exercising.

Air quality data for both ground-level ozone and fine particles are updated hourly at http://mass.gov/dep/air/, and forecasts are updated daily on the same website and on the MassDEP Air Quality Hotline at 1-800-882-1497. To receive forecasts by email, including alerts on poor air quality days, sign up at: http://www.enviroflash.info

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