Reported by: Tom McKee
Photographed by: 9News
Children, the elderly and even healthy adults impacted.
Greater Cincinnati's air was dirty enough Wednesday that the fourth smog alert of 2007 was issued by Hamilton County Environmental Services.
That means there's enough ozone in the air for it to be considered unhealthy for the very young, the elderly, people with respiratory problems and even healthy adults.
"Ozone is an irritant to the lining of the airway passages, but it can affect us all," said Anna Kelley, Quality Assurance & Monitoring Coordinator for Hamilton County Environmental Services.
Kelley kept an eye on a computer that continually monitors ozone levels around the agency's Corryville headquarters.
It recorded data receiving from an air intake device on the building's roof that looks much like a shower head in someone's bathroom.
The monitor takes a random sampling of the air so the amount of chemicals and particulate matter it contains can be scrutinized, according to Kelley.
Sources for ozone include emissions from vehicles, vapors from refueling them and exhaust from lawnmowers.
Mix them together under a hot sun and you get ozone.
Controlling it comes in small, well-publicized steps.
"The cars are something we can do something about – each individual, person," said Kelley. "We can combine trips. We can carpool. Refuel after 6:00 p.m. Make sure you don't cut [grass] until after 6:00 p.m."
Doctors at Cincinnati Children's Hospital say they're seeing an increased number of patients with respiratory problems.
"Children come in with congestion, a lot of sneezing," said Dr. Amal H. Assa'ad, Professor of Allergy & Immunology. "Children who have asthma are also coming in."
Seven-year old Sean Moon, of Hamilton, was undergoing tests for a possible food allergy Wednesday.
Small scratches were made on his back 76 times as part of the test.
His Mother, Rachelle, was beside him the entire time.
She said the heat and humidity have taken their toll on him at home and in school.
"I've seen that he's been breathing a lot heavier," she said. "He's had problems sleeping. He'll get the runny nose and congestion."
Dr. Assa'ad says overexertion outdoors for a long period of time in very hot and humid weather is often to blame for respiratory problems.
"The treatment is usually to avoid being outdoors – to be indoors in a more air-conditioned environment [instead] – which many children don't have," she added.
Medical treatments also include inhalers to deliver a dose of steroids directly to the airway, and bronchodilators, which open up the airway.
Anna Kelly, Rachelle Moon and Dr. Amal Assa'ad all say a little bit of ozone prevention would be a big boost to people like Sean Moon.
"You want to reduce the levels of ozone so you have better health," Kelley said.
