An article appearing in the Buffalo News today states that Erie and Niagara County may face costly anti-smog measures or the loss of millions in federal highway funds. New clean air standards take effect Thursday and apparently these counties are not up to code.

Ground level Ozone was measured from 2000 to 2002. In the summer of 2001, volunteers in 10 areas around Buffalo measured the ozone levels in their backyards every day. Ground-level ozone and smog are hot topics in the Buffalo region.

Residents in Cheektowaga's Bellevue section took part in the ozone monitoring. The results were startling.

On Como Park Blvd for instance, volunteers took daily ozone readings using a new, hand-held monitoring technology called Zikua ("visualizing the invisible" in KiSwahili). This new technology is a relatively inexpensive and easy way for the volunteers to measure local ozone levels. All of the citizen volunteers undergo extensive training to help ensure that they get the most accurate readings possible.

***Ozone Levels below are measured in parts per billion ***

*** Temperature is measured in Celsius ***

Date  Ozone Level Temp. Wind Dir.   Cloud Cover

8/30/01 70.0 27.0 SW     Clear(less than 10%)

8/29/01 47.0 23.0 -        Scattered (10-50%)

8/28/01 53.0 24.0 NW Overcast (more than 90%)

8/27/01 43.0 25.0 SW    Clear (less than 10%)

8/24/01 45.0 25.0 NE   Mostly Cloudy (50-90%)

8/22/01 71.0 26.0 S    Mostly Cloudy (50-90%)

8/17/01 33.0 22.0 -  Overcast (more than 90%)

8/16/01 77.0 29.0 S  Overcast (more than 90%)

8/15/01 70.0 33.0 -     Clear (less than 10%)

8/10/01 74.0 33.0 S    Mostly Cloudy (50-90%)

8/7/01 75.0 30.0 S   Overcast (more than 90%)

8/6/2001 73.0 29.0 S       Scattered (10-50%)

* Under the new requirements, areas where average ozone levels exceed 80 parts per billion over eight hours will be found in violation

*The resident noted extreme breathing difficulty while gathering the information at this site on each day above 70 parts per billion. It was also noted that the air was "thick".

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Volunteers expose specially treated badges to the air for one hour every afternoon. The badges change color in the presence of ozone (the darker the color, the higher the ozone concentration in the air). Once exposed, the badge is immediately inserted in the Zikua device, which is about the size of a cellular phone. A photo-optic sensor in Zikua translates the badge color into an electronic ozone reading in parts-per-billion (the same unit of measure used by EPA's monitoring network). The volunteers are trained to follow specific guidelines developed by the National Air and Space Administration (NASA) and the Global Learning and Observations to Benefit the Environment (GLOBE) program on how to position and operate the monitor to help ensure the most accurate results possible.

There is little monitoring for ozone in the Buffalo area: Erie County has one official ozone monitor, which is not located in the city of Buffalo. The relative lack of monitoring and ozone pollution problems could be endangering residents' health. Per

Ozone can exacerbate respiratory problems and might even cause asthma. There are different degrees of health effects due to ozone, depending on the ozone concentration and/or a person's sensitivity: • Ozone can irritate the respiratory system, leading to coughing and other throat irritations.

 Exposure to higher ozone levels can even reduce lung function, making it more difficult for people to breathe.

 Ozone can aggravate or cause asthma. Exposure to high ozone concentrations can cause asthma attacks that require a doctor's visit or use of additional medication. In fact, some studies have shown a noticeable increase in the number of hospital visits for asthma and other lung problems in the days after a high ozone day. A new study concluded that asthma can actually cause asthma among children who play sports outside in areas with high ozone.

 Prolonged exposure to high ozone levels can also damage the cells that line your lungs, aggravate chronic lung diseases such as emphysema, and eventually lead to permanent lung damage.

In addition to people with asthma and other respiratory diseases, active children and the elderly are most at risk for having ozone-relative problems. Even at low levels, some people experience respiratory problems attributable to ozone and smog.

 Active children are at the highest risk because they generally spend a lot of time playing outside and breathe more air per pound than adults do, so a higher dose of pollutant is delivered to their lungs.

Active adults who work or exercise outdoors also have higher levels of exposure to ozone than less active people.

Generally, as concentrations of ground-level ozone increase, more people feel the health effects. During periods of very high ozone levels, EPA recommends that everyone reduce their activity levels and avoid overly exerting themselves.

The Buffalo News article stated: "A violation could mean possible restrictions placed on power plants, industrial facilities, cars, trucks and other contributors to low-level ozone. Areas that fail to improve air quality could face the loss of federal highway funds or limits on industrial development."

The E P A is quoted as stating: "that the new requirements, the result of federal standards revised in 1997, are part of a broad strategy to improve air quality and reduce health risks to residents."

Erie and Niagara counties had been listed in violation of ground-level ozone under older EPA standards.

Ozone is created when volatile organic compounds and nitrogen oxides - released from automobiles, factories and coal-fired power plants - react to heat and sunlight. During summer months especially, excess ozone levels can contribute to lung irritation and health hazards.

The Cheektowaga Citizens Coalition is concerned that the 1.5 trucks per minute entering and exiting the quarry may be a large contributor to these high ozone levels found on Como park Blvd. Allowing additional trucks to use Como Park Blvd as the County has ordered will only exacerbate the current problem.

**The CCC is in complete agreement with the Depew/Cheektowaga Taxpayers group that the trucks should be removed from Como Park Blvd.

We do not support the closing of INDIAN RD to accomplish this.................