8-hour Ozone Standard Met!

Let’s start with the good news: the Sacramento Region’s air is the cleanest it’s been since measurements and documentation for ozone pollution over an 8-hour period began in the 1970’s! This is in part to:

·         all of the individuals that supported and chose clean transportation

·         the elected officials over the years that championed incentives and policies supporting clean air

·         the air pollution control officers at the five air districts in the region who had to foresight and courage to propose and implement aggressive clean air strategies

·         the business community for prioritizing clean air technologies and strategies

Congratulations to everyone who took steps to reduce ozone pollution!

A celebratory press conference was held on August 28th to mark the occasion. The event featured speakers from across the sector including Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Regional Administrator, Josh F.W. Cook, Congresswoman Doris Matsui and board members from the region’s air quality management districts, among others. Attendees heard about what it took to get to this milestone and encouraged us all to not let up on the momentum for cleaner air.

A health-based standard was set in 2008 for ozone pollution in metropolitan areas across the country to be achieved by 2024[1]. This standard was met earlier than the 2024 deadline After significant data review and approvals over the past year, the Sacramento region was notified to be officially in compliance with the 2008 standard, providing Sacramento region residents with cleaner air sooner than expected. These standards were set by the EPA as a result of the Clean Air Act passed in 1970. Data from regulated and tested air quality monitors are analyzed on a rolling basis to determine a region’s progress in meeting widely accepted health-based standards. The Sacramento region was deemed to be in non-attainment and at risk for a pause in transportation funding and tighter restrictions on businesses operating in the region.

Ozone pollution can have both short- and long-term impacts on lung health. According to state health officials, “In many cases, children may have greater exposure than adults to airborne pollutants. Infants and children generally breathe more rapidly than adults, which increases their exposure to any pollutants in the air. Infants and children often breathe through their mouths, bypassing the filtering effect of the nose and allowing more pollutants to be inhaled. Children generally spend significantly more time outdoors than adults, especially during summer months when smog levels are highest.

Children are often more susceptible to the health effects of air pollution because their immune systems and developing organs are still immature... Irritation or inflammation caused by air pollution is more likely to obstruct their narrower airways. It may also take less exposure to a pollutant to trigger an asthma attack or other breathing ailment due to the sensitivity of a child's developing respiratory system.”[i]

Improving air quality by reducing ozone will benefit all those living and breathing in the region. While we celebrate this significant milestone, we know that there is still more to be done. Pollution from mobile sources continues to be the number one factor contributing to ozone pollution. By continuing to choose and support clean transportation especially in our land use decisions, we can keep protecting lung health from long term impacts. We invite you to join us in making a #cleanairpledge, choosing non-combustion engines for transportation, walking, biking and taking transit. Let’s also support policymakers championing these policies in our region and state.

We invite you to join our inaugural Breathe Together, the Livability Summit Pre-Event, where we will honor the five Sacramento Region Air Districts for this achievement. Other awardees during our ceremony will be Jazmin Garcia for her efforts in local environmental work in the Youth Climate Action program, and Teichert for investing in the best available clean technology when purchasing and upgrading their heavy equipment and serving as co-chair of the Clean Air Partnership for many years. The event will also feature local food and drinks silent auction prizes to bid on, and networking opportunities. Tickets can be purchased for Breathe Together here, and tickets can be purchased for the Livability Summit here. Those who plan to attend both events will receive a second drink ticket and be entered into a raffle drawing to win a Sacramento Regional Transit Connect Card.

This year’s Breathe Together Gold Sponsors are Teichert and Cal EPIC. Thanks to the SacBreathe Board of Directors for their support. We are looking forward to nice evening out on the farm to celebrate progress for cleaner air.

[1] chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2008-03-27/pdf/E8-5645.pdf

[i] https://oehha.ca.gov/air/air-pollution-and-childrens-health-fact-sheet-oehha-and-american-lung-association