With the summer months upon us, unhealthy ozone air quality levels occur in many areas across the country. On hot, sunny days, when there is little or no wind, ground-level ozone can form and cause health problems such as pain when taking a deep breath, coughing, and throat irritation. It can also reduce lung function, inflame the linings of the lungs, and even trigger asthma attacks the day after ozone levels are high. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) offers daily air quality forecasts for more than 165 cities across the United States plus real-time air quality maps for 43 states and the District of Columbia. To check the air quality in your area – and find out how you can reduce exposure to unhealthy air – visit USEPA’s AIRNow web site at www.epa.gov/airnow

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