Cleanest air quality ever recorded in Ventura County

The Ventura County Air Pollution Control District reported recently that the county's 2007 air quality was the cleanest on record.

The county recorded the fewest number of days over the state one-hour and eight-hour ozone standards and the federal eighthour ozone standard since the APCD began monitoring for ozone in 1973.

Countywide there were eight days over the state onehour standard, 42 days over the state eighthour standard and six days over the federal eight-hour standard.

APCD director Mike Villegas credited the county's air quality improvements to reduced emissions from the fleet of cars and trucks and reductions from the county's industrial sources.

"This is tremendous news for the health of the county's residents," said Villegas.

"Although we have made significant improvement from the period of the 1970s and 1980s, we still have a long way to go to achieve the state and federal air quality standards. With all of the efforts of the public and industry, Ventura County's air quality is improving year by year."

Ozone is a colorless, toxic gas that can chemically burn and cause narrowing of airways, forcing the lungs and heart to work harder to provide oxygen to the body. Ozone also causes shortness of breath, nasal congestion, coughing, eye irritation, sore throat, headache, chest discomfort, breathing pain, throat dryness, wheezing, fatigue and nausea.

People most affected by ozone include the elderly, the young and athletes. Ozone may pose its worst health threat to people who already suffer from respiratory disease, such as asthma, emphysema and chronic bronchitis, and those with cardiovascular diseases. Ozone also damages agricultural crops, native vegetation and various natural and manufactured materials.

For more information on Ventura County's air, visit www.vcapcd.org.