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Conserve, protect and improve the health of native species habitats, water quality and quantity, and air quality.

Ozone (ppm)

Current Value

0.057 ppm

2021

Definition

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Story Behind the Curve

Chittenden County meets National Ambient Air quality Standards (NAAQS) for ozone levels. The red dotted line indicates the attainment level for ozone and levels should not exceed this amount. 

This indicator measures tropospheric, or ground level ozone. Ozone is formed when pollutants emitted by cars, power plants, industrial boilers, refineries, chemical plants, and other sources chemically react in the presence of sunlight. Ozone at ground level is a harmful air pollutant. Ozone is likely to reach unhealthy levels on hot sunny days in urban environments. Ozone can also be transported long distances by wind. 

Why Is This Important?

Ground-level ozone can make it harder to breathe, especially during the summer. People with lung disease, children, older adults, and people who are active outdoors may be particularly sensitive to ozone. Ozone also affects sensitive vegetation and ecosystems, including forests, parks, wildlife refuges and wilderness areas.

If the NAAQS are revised to be more stringent - or air pollutant levels increase - so that we exceed the NAAQS, additional and costly environmental regulations will apply to our region.

Note on Methodology

Ozone is measured using the 3-year average ozone concentration and the final year of the 3-year period is plotted. The 3-year average ozone concentration is compared to the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) 3-year average of the 4th highest daily maximum 8-hour concentration in a year to determine attainment. Ozone monitoring is collected in Underhill, VT.

Clear Impact Suite is an easy-to-use, web-based software platform that helps your staff collaborate with external stakeholders and community partners by utilizing the combination of data collection, performance reporting, and program planning.

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