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California adopts comprehensive strategy to meet federal ozone standard over next 15 years

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The California Air Resources Board today approved a statewide plan for attaining the federal health-based standard for ozone, typically experienced as smog. We simply cannot provide clean air to Californians without the federal government doing its part. —CARB Chair Liane Randolph.

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Severe drought influences ozone pollution

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From 2011 to 2015, California experienced its worst drought on record, with a parching combination of high temperatures and low precipitation. Although ozone in the stratosphere protects the earth from ultraviolet radiation, at ground level the molecule is a harmful air pollutant to humans, animals and plants.

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TOAR shows present-day global ozone distribution and trends relevant to health; public database

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Ozone levels across much of North America and Europe dropped significantly between 2000 and 2014. People living in parts of southern Europe, South Korea and southern Japan and China also experienced more than 15 days a year of ozone levels above 70 ppb. Trends in daily maximum ozone levels (known as 4MDA8) at urban and non-urban sites.

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California ARB approves air quality plan for South Coast Air Basin ahead of 2023 deadline; calls for Federal action

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The California Air Resources Board (CARB) voted to approve an updated plan for the South Coast Air Basin aimed at further cutting smog-forming emissions to attain the federal 8-hour ozone standard. To meet the 80 parts per billion ozone standard in the South Coast, all levels of government must do their part.

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California introduces first-in-nation rules to reduce climate “super pollutants” from commercial refrigeration, air conditioning equipment

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The California Air Resources Board recently approved first-in-the-nation rules to curb the impact of hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) refrigerants. HFCs are synthetic gases that are used in a variety of applications, but mainly to replace ozone-depleting substances in aerosols, foams, refrigeration and air-conditioning.

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EPA proposes tightening primary ozone standards to range of 65-70 ppb; final rule by October 2015

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Counties where measured ozone is above proposed range of standards, based on 2011-2013 monitoring data. Earlier this year, EPA staff had recommended the further reduction of this primary ozone standard from the current 75 ppb (parts per billion) to a revised level within the range of 70 ppb to 60 ppb—and preferably below 70 ppb.

Ozone 273
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CARB, NOAA, NASA and San Jose State University scientists team up to study ozone transported across Pacific

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As California continues to reduce local sources of ozone, ozone entering the state from the Pacific makes up a larger fraction of measured ozone levels. An ozonesonde is a balloon which measures ozone from the surface to more than 10 kilometers above the ground.

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