Official Site of The State of New Jersey
Days with Ozone Exceeding the Standard, by Year, New Jersey, 2000 to 2023
Indicator Report Data View Options
Why Is This Important?
Ozone is an odorless, colorless gas that forms both in the air at ground level and in the Earth's upper atmosphere (the stratosphere). Ground-level ozone forms when precursor pollutants that come from cars, power plants, and other sources react with each other in heat and sunlight.
While ozone in the stratosphere creates a layer that protects us from the sun's harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays, ozone at ground level may irritate and damage the lungs, and harm human health in other ways. The federal health-based standard for ozone in outdoor air was 0.075 parts per million (ppm) averaged over an 8-hour period until December 2015, after which time it was lowered to 0.070 ppm.
Definition
Days in which the average concentration of ozone in outdoor air exceeds the regulatory standard at an ozone monitoring point
Data Notes
Target is 0 days with ozone above standard. Values for years 2000-2007 are based upon the old 8-hour ozone standard of 0.08ppm. Values for years 2008-2015 reflect the 8-hour ozone standard of 0.075 ppm. Values from 2016 forward reflect the 8-hour ozone standard of 0.070 ppm.NJ Department of Environmental Protection, Bureau of Air Monitoring.
Data Source
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)(https://www.epa.gov/)
How the Measure is Calculated
Numerator:
Number of days in a year in which the ozone concentration at a monitor exceeded the National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS), averaged over an 8-hour periodDenominator:
Not applicable
Related Health Objectives and Indicators
Environmental Public Health Tracking Indicator AQ-59
Description: Ozone - Days above regulatory standardhttps://ephtracking.cdc.gov/indicatorPages?selectedContentAreaAbbreviation=11&selectedIndicatorId=59