FEMC Long-Term Monitoring Update - 2017

Ozone

Project Lead: Bennet Leon Staff Editor: Charles Nicholson

Monitoring Ozone Pollution Levels and Foliar Injury in Northern and Southern Vermont

Ozone damage on Milkweed leaf.
Ozone damage on Milkweed leaf.

Ozone is a colorless, odorless gas that occurs naturally in the stratosphere, where it helps protect us from harmful ultraviolet radiation. Closer to ground level, ozone pollution causes a range of adverse effects on human health and sensitive vegetation. Ozone forms from photochemical reactions between air pollution emissions of nitrogen oxides and volatile organic compounds (VOCs). The US EPA sets and periodically revises national ambient air quality standards (NAAQS) for ozone and other commonly occurring air pollutants, including “primary standards” to protect human health, and “secondary standards” to protect the environment. The current primary ozone standard was promulgated by EPA in 2015 and is based on the highest 8-hour average concentration in a day. The form of the standard is based on the 4th highest daily 8-hour concentration in a year, averaged over a 3-year period. The level of the current primary standard is 70 parts per billion (ppb), and the secondary standard was set equal to the primary standard.

The Data

The Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation’s Air Quality and Climate Division measures hourly ozone concentrations, year-round, at long-term monitoring sites in Bennington (generally representative of southern Vermont) and at the FEMC site in Underhill (generally representative of Northern Vermont). While these two monitoring locations have effectively represented the northern and southern portions of the state for many years, another ozone monitor in the City of Rutland, in the central part of the state, began operation on April 1, 2016. With preliminary 2018 data now available, the three-year average design value can be compared to the other sites, which averages similarly to, and in-between, the concentrations monitored at Bennington and Underhill (see Figure 15).

2018 in Summary

The most recent 2018 4th highest maximum and 3-year average data for Bennington, Rutland, and Underhill are summarized in Table 4 below. All of the monitored design values are below (i.e. in attainment of) the 70 ppb level of the current primary health standard.

Table 4. 2018 and 3-year average ozone concentrations in northern and southern Vermont.
2018 and 3-year average ozone concentrations in northern and southern Vermont.

Long-Term Trends

Long term trends in ozone in northern (Underhill) and southern (Bennington) Vermont, as well as the recent record for Rutland, are plotted in Figure 15 as rolling 3-year averages plotted on the last of the averaged years. Peak daily 8-hour concentrations - most relevant to human health effects – have declined from a range of 85-90 ppb in the early 1990s to 60-70 ppb more recently.

Vermont trends in ozone concentration. Data in the figure above are illustrated for the period 1987 to 2018 at the Bennington, Rutland, and Underhill ozone monitor locations. Note that 2018 averages are preliminary and subject to change.
Figure 15. Vermont trends in ozone concentration. Data in the figure above are illustrated for the period 1987 to 2018 at the Bennington, Rutland, and Underhill ozone monitor locations. Note that 2018 averages are preliminary and subject to change.

Implications

Substantial improvements have been observed in Vermont ozone concentrations over the past 20 years. These reductions reflect effective controls on emissions of VOCs and nitrogen oxides from sources like power plants and motor vehicles – both within Vermont and in upwind urban and industrial regions.

Despite attaining the current ozone standard, the regionally episodic nature and the transport of ozone precursors (VOCs and nitrogen oxides) from upwind regions remain a serious threat to meeting the standard. Implementation of control measures on sources of ozone-forming precursor emissions across the United States is critical to eliminate the current widespread non-attainment of ozone standards in other, upwind areas and the resulting atmospheric transport that impacts human health and the environment downwind.

It should be noted that visible ozone injury symptoms are evidence of relatively extreme plant damage. Other effects - such as reduced photosynthesis, plant growth and carbon uptake, and increased susceptibility to disease and insect damage – can occur at ozone exposures lower than those which produce visible injury symptoms. No safe “threshold” concentration of ozone exposure has been identified below which no harmful environmental or human health effects are expected. Current ground level ozone exposures remain well above natural conditions, and further reductions will yield further benefits to the health of Vermont’s forest environment. While the substantial progress achieved over the past few decades is good news for Vermont’s citizens and our environment, we should work to continue this progress into the future.

Tulip tree leaf with ozone damage.

Vermont’s ozone pollution has improved to levels where visible injury is rarely observed on our forest plants. However, plant health can still be affected at ozone exposures well below those, which cause visible injury. Continued reductions are needed in the future.

Additional Resources

FEMC Project Database Link