Lung Association Reminds New Yorkers Of Ozone Dangers

ALBANY, NY (06/09/2008)(readMedia)-- As a heat wave engulfs the Northeast, the American Lung Association of New York today reminded all New Yorkers of the health risks associated with high levels of ozone. High ozone days often occur during the summer months on days where there is a lot of sunlight and high temperatures.

Those particularly vulnerable on high ozone days are individuals already in high-risk categories -- children, teens and seniors, and people with asthma, chronic bronchitis, emphysema, cardiovascular disease and diabetes.

Ozone, a gas formed most often when sunlight reacts with vapors emitted when motor vehicles, factories, power plants and other sources burn fuel, irritates the respiratory tract and causes health problems like asthma attacks, coughing, wheezing, chest pain and even premature death.

Last month, the Lung Association issued its annual State of the Air report which highlighted the poor air that many New Yorkers breathe. According to the report, 8,260,033 New Yorkers live in counties that have failing air quality -- equaling 48 percent of the State’s residents.

More information on the State of the Air report is available at www.alanys.org.

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