NOAA, EPA LAUNCH AIR QUALITY AWARENESS DAYS

Martinsburg, WV - With summer vacations in full swing, the NOAA National Weather Service and the Environmental Protection Agency are launching Air Quality Awareness Days , June 29-July 1, to encourage Americans to check local air quality forecasts as they plan their daily activities. Recent forecast improvements by NOAA and EPA are making air quality forecasts more available to more people than ever before.

Ozone pollution, also known as ground-level ozone, forms when pollutants from sources such as cars, power plants and industries "cook" in the sun. Ozone pollution can aggravate respiratory diseases, including asthma, and can reduce lung function. Even healthy people can have symptoms related to ozone exposure, so everyone should pay attention to air quality forecasts. State and local agencies issue official next-day air quality forecasts for more than 300 communities across the United States . These forecasts let citizens know what kind of air quality to expect the next day in their community.

The Environmental Protection Agency sets national air quality standards for ozone and other common air pollutants as part of its mission to protect public health and the environment. EPA established the Air Quality Index to inform the public about local air quality levels.

The NOAA National Weather Service is the primary source of weather data, forecasts and warnings for the United States and its territories. The NOAA National Weather Service operates the most advanced weather and flood warning and forecast system in the world, helping to protect lives and property and enhance the national economy.

NOAA, an agency of the U.S. Department of Commerce , is dedicated to enhancing economic security and national safety through the prediction and research of weather and climate-related events and providing environmental stewardship of the nation's coastal and marine resources.

For more information about Air Quality Awareness Days, visit www.airnow.gov .

Eastern Panhandle Clean Air Connection is a public-private community partnership sponsored by the local governments of Berkeley and Jefferson Counties and the City of Martinsburg , and managed by the Region 9 Planning and Development Council. Their mission is to increase public awareness of air pollution through education and outreach, as well as encourage community participation in voluntary actions that will improve air quality in the Eastern Panhandle Region.

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