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OPINION
Oxygen, chemical symbol ‘O’, is fairly plentiful on earth. When bonded together we have O2, which is the good stuff we wish we could get more of when climbing three flights of stairs. O3, Ozone, protects us from Ultra Violet Rays when it is in the upper atmosphere but is harmful when we breath it. Hence the expression “Good up high, Bad nearby”. Ozone at ground level is thought to be a contributor to most of the common breathing disorders such as asthma and emphysema, and contributes to the “brown cloud”. Enough of the science, it took a trip on the web to refresh what was probably learned in high school chemistry. We measure Ozone around the Pikes Peak Region and since new standards began in 1997 our average Ozone at ground level has gone up from 69% of the standard to 86%. We took the fluorocarbons out of aerosols, changed the coolant in refrigerators and mandated recovery systems for the air in underground fuel tanks. Legislation has mandated low sulfur diesel nation wide and less volatile gasoline in offending regions, but there are several everyday things we can do to help stem the rise in the local Ozone numbers. Peterson Air Force Base no longer paints labels or uses solvents to remove instructions and markings on planes, instead using a decal system which emits no Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC). Hydrocarbons or VOC, while naturally occurring, come out of the tailpipe on your car as well, and when they react with Nitrogen Oxides, also found in abundance, we get Ozone. What can we do to help? Warm your car up for no more than 30 seconds, turn it off when the engine will be idling for more than 10 seconds (you burn more fuel in 10 seconds than it takes to restart your engine). Don’t top off the gas tank, use less oil base paint and stain, especially in June and July, our highest Ozone months. Keep your car and lawn mower well tuned. Lawn and garden equipment is one of the worst offenders, but fortunately they are also used for short periods of time. Don’t spill gasoline, replace damaged or old gas tank caps, and use fewer pesticides. Like most environmental issues Ozone is no one person’s fault. No single event caused the problem and there is no ‘silver bullet’ legislation that will fix it. Knowing what we can do, working together, and acting responsibly will make a difference. Willow Springs Ponds information open house: 6:30 PM, Fountain/Fort Carson Middle School, 515 N. Santa Fe Avenue, Thursday, April 19, 2007
DENNIS' ARCHIVES |
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