OPINION: Summertime and the breathing ain't easy

Judith Enck is regional administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Summertime is right around the corner, so our thoughts are turning to sunny days at Long Island's beautiful beaches and spending more time outdoors. But summer also brings air pollution from the thousands of cars that clog our roads and from other sources of pollution.

With the traffic come smog alert days that can affect people's health - especially kids with asthma. Long Island doesn't meet national air quality health standards for particulate matter and ozone, commonly known as smog.

Smog is formed when chemical pollutants released by cars, power plants, industrial boilers, refineries and factories react in sunlight and become ground-level ozone. It's more likely to form during hot days, and it takes a toll on our health. Ground-level ozone shouldn't be confused with ozone in the ozone layer, 10 to 30 miles above the Earth, which protects us from the sun's ultraviolet rays. Ozone at ground level is a harmful air pollutant.

Poor air quality affects everyone, but some are particularly sensitive to ozone - including children and adults who are active outdoors, as well as people with respiratory diseases. About 23 million people nationwide, including 7 million children, have asthma. Smog is linked to thousands of deaths and illnesses each year in people with heart or lung disease.

Ozone irritates the respiratory system, decreases lung function and can inflame and damage the cells that line the lungs. Medical studies show that air pollution can trigger heart attacks, stroke and irregular heart rhythms. Roughly one out of every three people in the United States is at risk of experiencing ozone-related health effects. So when elevated ozone levels are expected, the Environmental Protection Agency recommends that people limit strenuous outdoor activity during the afternoon and early evening hours, when ozone levels are highest.

The EPA helps run the Air Quality Index, which tracks five major air pollutants - ozone, particle pollution, carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide and nitrogen dioxide - and ranks them from good to hazardous. In 2009, Nassau and Suffolk counties had six alert days, which can be unhealthy for sensitive groups. In 2010, we've already had two here, on the Friday and Saturday of Memorial Day weekend.

People ask me for tips about what they can do to reduce air pollution. Sensible steps such as conserving energy, bicycling, carpooling, using public transportation, combining errands that require a car, and reducing engine idling all help reduce the strain that everyday activities put on air quality. So does using fans instead of air conditioning. During the summer months, avoid using starter fluid when barbecuing, and limit the use of gasoline-powered lawn mowers, leaf blowers or trimmers. There are now electric-powered lawn tools that do not pollute the air as much as gas items. Many of these steps will also save you money.

During very hot weather, it's also helpful to put gas in your car during early morning or late evening hours, when less fumes evaporate, and to avoid filling up on Ozone Action Days. And topping off your tank beyond the automatic shut-off point is a bad idea at any time, since that can cause spills and emit more toxic fumes in the air.

For our part, the EPA is also taking steps to reduce air pollution. In January 2010, EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson proposed the strictest air pollution standards in U.S. history. Last year, we announced tougher tailpipe emission standards for cars and light-duty trucks for model years 2012-2016, which will result in cleaner vehicles - ultimately requiring an average fuel economy standard of 35 mpg in 2016 across automakers' fleets. This will result in increased fuel economy of 5 percent every year, reduce greenhouse gas pollution by nearly 950 million metric tons and save the average car buyer more than $3,000 in fuel costs over the life of the vehicle.

While we all look forward to Long Island's beautiful summer days, we should always remember that hot weather can bring health problems. It is in everyone's interests to do what we can to reduce air pollution.