JOPLIN, MO.--- According to the Missouri Department of Conservation, Jasper County ozone levels are to high. Four State community and industry leaders attended a conference hosted by the Environmental Task Force of Jasper and Newton Counties.
Representatives from the Missouri Department of Natural Resources spoke about ways to fix the problem, including organizing a local air quality group and developing a clean air action plan.
Representatives from the Missouri Department of Natural Resources spoke about ways to fix the problem, including organizing a local air quality group and developing a clean air action plan.
Having high levels of ozone can increase cases of lung disease, as well as hurt vegetation and the ecosystem. Joplin city leaders say there are a number of ways an individual can help protect the air in our area.
"When you're working out in your garage, making sure if you have volatile organic compounds that you use in the garage, gasoline etc., make sure to keep those containers capped tightly so that you don't have evolution of that into the atmosphere," says Dan Pakarek, Joplin Health Department.
If our ozone level continues to be higher than the standard for several years, an environmental unit will be assigned to Jasper County to determine where a majority of the ozone chemicals are coming from, and then attempt to neutralize the problem. For example, limiting mileage for diesels at a trucking company.
"When you're working out in your garage, making sure if you have volatile organic compounds that you use in the garage, gasoline etc., make sure to keep those containers capped tightly so that you don't have evolution of that into the atmosphere," says Dan Pakarek, Joplin Health Department.
If our ozone level continues to be higher than the standard for several years, an environmental unit will be assigned to Jasper County to determine where a majority of the ozone chemicals are coming from, and then attempt to neutralize the problem. For example, limiting mileage for diesels at a trucking company.
