By Brandon Hearn

Clean water, soil and air are all components of a healthy environment.

Johnson and Wyandotte Counties in Kansas, and Jackson, Clay, and Platte Counties in Missouri, collectively make up the Kansas City “airshed” and work together to decrease air pollution. Kansas City, including Johnson County, has historically had problems with ozone — a common air pollutant identified by the Environmental Protection Agency.

There are two kinds of ozone: the good kind in the ozone layer high above the Earth that protects us from the sun’s ultraviolet rays, and the bad kind on the ground level, also known as ozone pollution or smog.

Ground-level ozone in the Kansas City region is an air quality problem, even surpassing the federal health standards at times and causing health problems. Senior adults can be especially vulnerable. Ground-level ozone can impair breathing, cause lung damage and damage vegetation.

At most at risk are people with asthma, emphysema, heart conditions as well as children, elderly and healthy adults engaged in vigorous work outdoors. On high ozone concentration days, anyone can be at risk. Don’t be fooled just because you can’t always see smog, meteorologists produce ozone pollution forecasts called SkyCasts using the Air Quality Index, which tells us the expected air quality based on pollution that’s anticipated for the upcoming day.

The time of the year when ground-level ozone typically reaches the highest levels starts March 1 and ends Oct. 31. Taking some simple actions can help you reduce pollution, save money and protect your health. Making minor changes to activities can help curb the effect of ozone pollution.

The various appliances, devices and tools you use every day create emissions indirectly because of the energy they use. At home, you can conserve energy by turning off lights and regulating household temperatures and avoid chemicals that contain volatile organic compounds.

When doing yard work, mow as late as possible, preferably after 7 p.m. Consider replacing any gasoline powered equipment with electric or battery-powered. You can even convert lawn spaces to native plants to reduce the amount of mowing and watering.

On the road, consider choosing cleaner commute options, such as public transit or carsharing, keep tires properly inflated and check gas caps annually. A faulty gas cap can allow up to 30 gallons of fuel per year to evaporate. You can also reduce ozone pollution by refueling in the evening.

Visit AirQKC.org for more information about ozone season and additional steps you can take to improve air quality.

You can find more information at jocogov.org/airquality or email me at brandon.hearn@jocogov.org.

Brandon Hearn is environmental health specialist at the Johnson County Department of Health and Environment.