Thanks Tom!
I had the opportunity to work with Tom Skilling at WGN Chicago some years ago as an intern in the weather office. I got to work with an incredible team of scientists and weather producers to help put together the evening weather broadcast and the next day’s print graphic! I loved every minute and I definitely miss the atmosphere of that wonderful weather office! (Yes, even you Bill!)

I was reminded of my time with Tom Skilling and Co. this morning when I saw a recent “Ask Tom” question about the health impacts of ozone.
I loved the question and the answer and wanted to add my two cents since I currently am conducting research on the production and transport of lower-level tropospheric ozone. Tom’s answer to Paul Kouba from La Grange, Illinois in regards to his sinus and throat troubles on high ozone days was right on point. Tom says,
“Breathing ozone can result in several negative health effects, some of which are respiratory: pain in the chest when taking a deep breath, chest tightness or shortness of breath, coughing and throat irritation. Ozone is a powerful oxidant and it can irritate the airways, especially in children, the elderly and in outdoor workers or others who are active outdoors.”
This question was especially timely given the recent directive by EPA administrator Scott Pruitt who sent a letter on June 28th to governors informing them that the deadline for states to reach healthy levels of surface ozone has been extended to 2018. You can read a copy of the extension notice here.
The current standard for a city to fall within EPA the National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS) for ozone is to have an 8-hour running average of ozone no greater than 75 ppb (parts-per-billion). On October 1st of 2015, the EPA signed a notice revising that standard to 70 ppb of ozone with states to have a period of 2 years to attempt to meet the standard level. Now, nearly two years and one administration later the deadline has been extended. This has serious impacts on human health not only for the reasons Tom Skilliing mentions.
Just this week, the Journal of the American Medical Association Internal Medicine published the results of a year-long study of 89 healthy adults living in Changsha City, China. The goal of the study was to learn about the affects of ozone on human health outside of the respiratory system; specifically, how does ozone impact the function of the cardiovascular system?
In their study, the team comprised of researchers from Duke University, Tsinghua University, Duke Kunshan University, and Peking University found that ozone levels below those required to have negative effects on the respiratory system (the current basis for NAAQS regulatory levels) are associated with markers of platelet activation and increased blood pressure, two keys risk factors in cardiovascular disease.
It is critical that we take findings like these into consideration when we are talking about air quality governance. Just this past month, Texas governor Greg Abbott issued a line-item budget veto that removed $1.5 million of a two-year budget from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ). One of the major roles of TCEQ is to support the maintenance and operation of air quality monitoring stations across Texas, the very sensors that determine compliance with the NAAQS regulatory levels. Cities like San Antonio (already surpassing the 70ppb mark for ozone this year) have already had to jump through hoops in order to keep these sensors online.
If our state law makers won’t act, at least let us all do our parts and consider our options, especially on ozone alert or ozone action days. Think about walking or riding you bike to work instead of driving. If you have to drive, set up a car pool with your work mates. And Paul, I know it can be dodgy at times, but the CTA really is a good option when you want to do your part for our health when you’re downtown.
Thanks to Bill and Tom and Mike and Mark and Micah and Duffy and Jennifer and Thomas and Lourdes and Jim and all the other countless people that guided me along at the WGN Weather Center and 2501 W. Bradley. You are good people and keep up the great work!! Go Cubs!

