There are two EPA-regulated air pollutants affecting the Kansas City region: ground-level ozone and particulate matter.
Ozone and particulate matter are two of six criteria pollutants regulated by the Clean Air Act, both of which cause harm to your health and the environment. To address these risks, EPA sets and adjusts air quality standards based on scientific research assessing the impact of the pollutant. A primary standard is established for health considerations and a secondary standard associated with protecting the natural and built environment.
Unfortunately, the Kansas City region is routinely at risk of violating the national primary standards for both pollutants. Learn more about ozone and particulate matter and what you can do to help keep our air clean.
Good vs. bad
Tiny but mighty
Air pollution is a serious public health concern, with two EPA regulated, pollutants affecting the Kansas City region: ground-level ozone and particulate matter.
These pollutants can affect everyone, but children, older adults and individuals with respiratory or heart conditions are especially sensitive and susceptible to impacts. Understanding these pollutants and their health impacts can help you take steps to protect yourself and your loved ones.
Ground-level ozone irritates lungs and breathing passageways affecting your ability to absorb oxygen and making you cough or wheeze. Ozone pollution is harmful for everyone but especially to people with heart or respiratory problems such as asthma, emphysema and COPD. Children and seniors are also at high risk when the ozone level reaches “Alert” status. In particular, children have smaller lungs, breath at a more rapid rate and are more likely to be active without paying attention to breathing symptoms.
There are two kinds of ozone:
Even though ozone contributes to smoggy hazy skies, don't be fooled, ozone is actually invisible and can be present even when skies are clear.
Ozone pollution is not directly emitted but instead forms when emissions from sources such as vehicles, lawn mowers, power plants and industry react with heat and sunlight.
Since it requires sunlight to generate ozone pollution, high ozone levels are most likely to occur on hot, sunny days with stagnant air when fuels are being burned, and hot weather speeds the evaporation of highly volatile chemicals like gasoline. Prolonged spells with low winds allow local pollution to concentrate and build to high levels.
PM2.5 is fine inhalable particles, that are generally 2.5 micrometers and smaller. These particles can be made up of hundreds of different chemicals and are a main component of haze and reduced visibility. They are also quite hazardous to your health.
Unlike ozone, fine particulate matter can be directly or indirectly emitted. Many particulates are directly emitted by burning fuels as with ozone, but they can also come from sources such as dust from storms or construction, aerosols from cleaners or even liquids from activities like cooking that enter the air to be inhaled.
PM2.5 is a concern all year round. Transportation and industrial sources operate in all seasons, agricultural burning is common in the spring and fall, dust and fireworks contribute high values during the summer and firepits or fireplaces produce smoke in the winter. Temperature inversions, a weather phenomenon where warm air traps cold air near the ground, can prevent air pollution from being dispersed. This is more common during the winter when warm air aloft flows into the region while the ground is still cold, but it can also happen during summer mornings in low lying areas
Very fine particulate matter pollution is a grave concern for people with heart and circulatory conditions as well as those with breathing difficulties. The respiratory concerns and physical response to PM2.5 pollution mimic those of ozone, but particulate matter can enter the circulatory system by passing through the thin tissue of lung alveoli increasing the risk of heart attack and stroke for individuals with cardiac problems or atherosclerosis. In addition to children and seniors, pregnant women should also avoid and take precautions during high PM2.5 events. The particulate can weaken the immune systems and make a developing fetus more susceptible to being born early, underweight and develop diabetes.
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The MARC Air Quality program has issued an Ozone Action Alert for Wed. Sept. 2. Details >
