2007 Summer in Review

The summer's long over, but we haven't had a chance to really take a look at how bad our ozone pollution was. As the Denver metro area prepares to be designated a "nonattainment" area, or to be in violation of federal health standards for ozone, let's take a look at what pushed us over the edge.

• Among all the 13 ozone monitors in the Denver metro area, ozone health standards were exceeded 50 times this last summer. In 2006, health standards were exceeded 66 times.
• Health standards were exceeded at all but three monitors, the Downtown Denver, Downtown Ft. Collins, and Greeley monitors.
• The Rocky Flats experienced 12 exceedances, the most of any Denver metro monitor. In 2006, Rocky Flats had 11 exceedances.
• Most monitors registered fewer exceedances this year than in 2006, but four monitors--Boulder, Fort Collins West, Golden, and Rocky Flats--all registered more exceedances this year than last.
  

But that's not all. Current standards limit ozone to no more than 80 parts per billion over an eight hour period. However, EPA health science advisers are recommending that new ozone standards limit ozone to no more than 60 parts per billion over an eight hour period.

If ozone standards were set at 60 parts per billion, as health science advisers are urging, the Denver metro area would have exceeded health standards 865 times this last summer.

We've violated federal health standards for ozone and it's no wonder. We're far from being anything close to healthy as far as our air quality goes here in Denver.