Automobile Access

Bike Lane Access

Traffic Volume

Transportation

Diesel Particulate Matter

Fine Particulate Matter (PM2.5)

Ozone

Clean Environment

Park Access

Tree Canopy

Neighborhood

Above Poverty

Employed

Per Capita Income

Economic

Census Response

Voting

Social

Insured Adults

Healthcare Access

Homeownership

Housing Habitability

Severely Cost Burdened Low-Income Homeowners

Severely Cost Burdened Low-Income Renters

Uncrowded Housing

Housing

Bachelor's Education

High School Enrollment

Preschool Enrollment

Education

Outdoor Workers

Supermarket Access

Two Parent Households

Library Access

Safe Drinking Water

Public Transit Access

Decision Support

Everyone should be able to live in neighborhoods where it is safe to breathe. When ozone levels in the air are high, it can cause lung inflammation and more serious respiratory issues. Prolonged exposure to high ozone levels can increase the risk of cardiovascular and respiratory diseases, poor birth outcomes, and premature death. People who spend a lot of time outdoors are especially at risk of high ozone exposure, including outdoor workers and adults and children participating in sports and exercise.

  For more information, see:  The Utah Department of Environmental Quality’s 

 the Utah Environmental Public Health Tracking’s 

, and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s 

Health Effects of Ozone in the General Population

This indicator measures the average amount of ozone (often called smog) in the air during the most polluted 8 hours of summer days. Ground level ozone is formed when pollutants such as nitrogen oxides (NO

) and reactive organic gases react with sunlight.

Wolch, J. R., Byrne, J., & Newell, J. P. (2014). Urban green space, public health, and environmental justice: The challenge of making cities ‘just green enough.’ Landscape and Urban Planning, 125, 234–244. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.landurbplan.2014.01.017

Knight, T., Price, S., Bowler, D., Hookway, A., King, S., Konno, K., & Richter, R. L. (2021). How effective is ‘greening’ of urban areas in reducing human exposure to ground-level ozone concentrations, UV exposure and the ‘Urban Heat Island Effect’? An updated systematic review. Environmental Evidence, 10(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s13750-021-00226-y

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. (2018, August). Estimating the environmental effects of green roofs: A case study in Kansas City, Missouri. EPA. Retrieved from https://www.epa.gov/heatislands/estimating-environmental-effects-green-roofs-case-study-kansas-city-missouri

Cohen, D. A., Han, B., Isacoff, J., Shulaker, B., Williamson, S., Marsh, T., McKenzie, T. L., Weir, M., & Bhatia, R. (2015). Impact of park renovations on park use and park-based physical activity. Journal of Physical Activity & Health, 12(2), 289–295. https://doi.org/10.1123/jpah.2013-0165

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. (2008). Reducing Heat Islands: Compendium of Strategies- Cool Roofs. Retrieved from: https://www.epa.gov/sites/default/files/2014-06/documents/coolroofscompendium.pdf

Environmental Protection Agency. (2017). Health effects of ozone in the general population. EPA. Retrieved from https://www.epa.gov/ozone-pollution-and-your-patients-health/health-effects-ozone-general-population#recurrent

Mendenhall, J. (2020, November 3). Rethinking our relationship with cars. Utah Department of Environmental Quality. Retrieved from https://deq.utah.gov/air-quality/rethinking-our-relationship-with-cars

Mitchel, L. (2020, May 5). Covid-19 & air quality in Utah. Department of Atmospheric Sciences, The University of Utah. Retrieved from https://atmos.utah.edu/air-quality/covid-19_air_quality.php

To address high levels of ozone, jurisdictions should adopt a range of strategies to reduce emissions of the chemicals that react with sunlight to become ozone (ozone precursors), reduce urban heat islands that speed ozone formation, and protect residents from pollution. 

While local jurisdictions do not have regulatory authority over most smokestack (stationary source) and tailpipe (mobile source) emissions, there are many actions local jurisdictions can take to reduce pollution. They can incentivize or require 

Low-Emission Vehicles and Freight Facilities

 in many situations. They can also limit ozone production by helping 

—decreasing tailpipe emissions and other particles released from wear and tear on breaks and tires, and also investing in sidewalks, biking, public transportation, ridesharing and other mobility options. 

 strategies, in particular, can help reduce driving by allowing people to live close to jobs, services and other destinations. They can also work with their local Air Quality Management District to 

, like generators, lawn care equipment, and other stationary sources.

In addition to reducing pollution, it is essential to find ways to protect residents from ozone and other pollutants. Where pollution and people must coexist, jurisdictions can 

 by encouraging accurate information collection and developing appropriate responses to air risks. Jurisdictions can promote 

 where buildings, pavement, and other dark surfaces capture heat. Increased temperatures in urban areas speed the process that generates ozone from precursor pollutants. They can use natural systems and heat-reflective materials to keep buildings, pavements, and the urban environment cooler. Finally, jurisdictions should 

Build Community Engagement and Connection

 and partner with communities to address air quality and health issues. 

For all strategies, jurisdictions should direct and prioritize efforts for places already overburdened by air pollution, and work to address existing inequities in health. In addition to relieving existing burdens, jurisdictions should identify opportunities to maximize additional health or quality of life benefits that can be achieved in addition to decreased pollution. For instance, 

 can improve indoor air quality, reduce asthma triggers, provide job training opportunities, and save residents money. Local governments should prioritize interventions that minimize risk in vulnerable communities, while maximizing co-benefits that meet community needs.

Reduce car travel and emissions by enabling people to live close to jobs, services and other destinations.

Healthy Neighborhoods

Pollution

Climate

Equity

Community Engagement and Connection

Promising

Transit-Oriented Affordable Housing

Strong Evidence

Parking Requirements

Partner with communities to address air quality issues. Use natural systems and heat-reflective materials to keep cities cooler and reduce ozone production. Where pollution and people must co-exist, encourage healthy design standards and accurate information collection and response to existing risks.

Sufficient Evidence

Community Organizing

Reduce emissions from construction, homes, and other stationary sources.

Tobacco Taxes

Comprehensive Tobacco Control Programs

Emerging

Other Stationary Source Reduction Measures

Retrofit Diesel Generators

Lawn and Garden Equipment Exchange and Incentive Programs

Where pollution and people must co-exist, encourage healthy design standards and accurate information collection and response to existing risks.

Health

Weatherization Programs

Monitoring and Warning Systems

Site Planning

Use natural systems to protect workers by reducing heat-island effects and providing shade.

Green Roofs

Physical Activity

Urban Greening

Cool Pavements

Green Storm Water Infrastructure

Cool Roofs

Reduce the tailpipe emissions that help form ozone by reducing car travel.

Transit Service Expansion

Shared Transportation Systems

Transit Fix-It-First

Transportation Demand Management (TDM)

Discount Transit Pass Programs

Surge Telework Policies

Active Transportation Infrastructure

Reduce ozone precursors at their source by using cleaner freight technology and practices.

Policy Guide

Ozone

References