How your summer habits can help cut ozone pollution in the Front Range

Ground-level ozone is the Front Range's most pressing air quality issue — and as summer arrives, pollution levels have the potential to spike.

What you need to know: In the upper atmosphere, ozone (O₃) forms a protective layer that shields us from the sun's ultraviolet radiation.

Okay, but: At ground level, ozone becomes a harmful air pollutant.

• Ground-level ozone forms when emissions from gas vehicles, gas-powered lawn equipment and oil and gas operations react with heat and sunlight on hot, sunny days with little wind.

The ideal conditions for ozone formation occur on the same perfect sunny days that residents are most active outdoors across the Front Range.

Why it's important: Ozone inflames airways, irritates lungs and worsens conditions like asthma.

• Children, older adults, outdoor workers and athletes are most vulnerable — especially between noon and 8pm, when ozone levels are mostly likely to peak.
• Children face the greatest risk because their lungs are still developing, they're more likely to have asthma and they're more likely to be active outdoors when ozone levels are high.
• Elevated ozone days are linked to increased emergency room visits for children.

The impact: Symptoms may seem mild at first: a tight chest, dry cough, shortness of breath.

But even relatively low levels of ozone can cause damage not only to your lungs, but also to your heart and cardiovascular system.

Over time, it can…

• Impair athletic performance and contribute to the development of asthma.
• Heighten sensitivity to allergens in people with existing allergies.
• Slow recovery from respiratory infections.

The positive news: We all can reduce emissions and help the Colorado community breathe easier.

Simple Steps. Better Air. is a public awareness program from the Regional Air Quality Council (RAQC), the lead air quality planning organization for Colorado's Front Range.

• The program's mission? Help residents understand ozone pollution and take steps to reduce it.

What Simple Steps. Better Air. is saying: Simple, everyday actions can help reduce ozone formation.

• Skip the solo drive. Carpool, take transit or bike when possible.
• Avoid idling your car. Every minute your gas engine runs while parked releases 150 balloons' worth of air pollution.
• Mow the lawn after 5pm when temperatures are lower and ozone formation slows — or, better yet, switch to electric tools and get 30% off with a new statewide discount.
• Consider the upgrade to a higher MPG vehicle, a hybrid, or go fully electric.
• Work from home if you can to cut emissions.

Next steps: Sign up for email or text alerts from Simple Steps. Better Air. — delivered during ozone season in partnership with the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment.

• These advisories help you know when to limit or adjust outdoor activity, especially between noon and 8pm, and when small actions (like delaying errands until after 5pm) can make the biggest difference.
• Get involved: Text "BetterAirCO" to 21000 or sign up online to receive the ozone alerts.

The takeaway: Our individual choices matter. You can't see ground-level ozone, but we can all work together to help reduce it.

Learn how to take action.