High levels of ozone pollution harm human health
High levels of ozone pollution harm human health because it is harder to breathe, especially for the young, elderly and those with chronic respiratory problems. Ozone pollution is formed on hot summer days when nitrogen oxides and volatile organic compounds combine and react to high heat. Those pollutants are released by refineries, automobiles, power plants and other sources. The Front Range has two benchmarks to meet to satisfy the EPA. First, it needs to reduce annual ozone pollution averages to 75 parts per billion by 2027 to meet a 2008 standard. But it also is failing to meet the more stringent 2015 requirement to lower averages to 70 parts per billion. Mike Silverstein, the Regional Air Quality Council’s executive director, said his agency is forecasting the region can meet the 2027 deadline. But, he said, “we are not projecting attainment for the tougher standard.”