The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA

Abstract #52478

Julie A. Becker, PhD, MPH, Center for Public Health, Temple University, 2534 Swain Street, Philadelphia, PA 19130, 215-763-0754, jbecker@astro.temple.edu

Smog is the most prevalent form of air pollution in the Delaware Valley. This ground-level ozone has been linked to a number of negative health outcomes including asthma. While smog is often viewed as a global problem, local initiatives can be created such as the Ozone Action program. The goal is to reduce the local formation of ground-level ozone on those days when reduction is most needed, during the summer. By notifying the public through various media (including television and radio) about forecasted high ozone days, this program seeks voluntary actions to reduce emissions from vehicles, paints and solvents, unburned fuel, and industrial sources. Fourteen counties in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware and Maryland form the Philadelphia ozone "nonattainment area" because they do not meet federal air quality standards. In the past five years, there have been between 2 and 21 high ozone days (when concentrations exceed the standard) in this region. Private companies, organizations and government agencies have signed on as Ozone Action Partners. They have agreed to support the Ozone Action program as an official policy and encourage participation in the program by their employees. Business partners are notified by fax or e-mail the day before an Ozone Action Day. They, in turn, inform their employees that the next day is forecast to exceed the national health-based ozone standard and ask them to take appropriate actions to reduce the levels of ground-ozone. Over 200 business partners participate in this project, managed locally by Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission (DVRPC).

Learning Objectives:

(
• Describe how partnerships between government agencies, businesses and the media can be used to raise awareness of air quality issues among the public; (2)identify ways to include broad coalitions to alert the public about ozone.

Keywords: Community Health, Environmental Health Hazards

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.