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s� hour ozone . A violation occurs if an area 's ozone level exceeds 85 parts per billion or if particulate matter exceeds particle sizes of 2 . 5 microns . Recommendations are due in February 2004 and EPA designations are expected by December 2004 . Boothe described the formation of ground level ozone as nitrogen oxide combining with volatile organics in a photochemical situation . It is a summertime event . If strong winds are prevalent the pollutants don 't have enough time to form the ozone . People with asthma are affected . It decreases lung capacity 15 - 200/o in healthy adults especially those working outdoors in the heat of the day when ozone levels peak . Boothe described the damage to the lungs as being similar to sunburn on the skin . Health effects are tracked through hospitals and increased asthma cases . Repeated exposures can cause scaring of lung tissues . Children may experience slower lung growth and even permanent . changes that reduce quality of life . Elderly and children are at most risk , also those who work outside during peak ozone levels . Booth showed graphics and described exceedances to the air quality standards for the Triangle region , noting that weather plays a large part . She said there are a lot of initiatives to reduce emissions planned over the next 10 years . A member asked how North Carolina ranks with other states . Boothe explained that if you look at our total number of exceedances it looks like NC is near the top . She noted , however , that NC has a lot of monitors that help with modeling to evaluate our situation . We have about three times the monitors that are required . She said the Raleigh - Durham and Charlotte areas would likely be considered " moderate . " The rest of the state is expected to be " marginal . " North Carolina has some problems , but we aren 't as bad as other areas such as California . Boothe showed a map showing the number of counties that are violating the eight - hour ozone standard . Tucker noted that there is no monitor in Orange County and that one of the CfE ' s recommendations in the State of the Environment Report is to establish a monitor in this county . Also , the map doesn 't show violations in a county that does not have a monitor . Boothe showed where the monitors are located and described the EPA looks at to determine violations . The only point not currently in violation is in Chatham County/ Pittsboro ; however , it is very close . Boothe explained EPA ' s guidance that any county with a violating monitor should be designated " non - attainment " and entire metropolitan statistical areas ( MSAs ) should also be designated " non - attainment . " EPA prefers whole county versus partial county designations . The entire Triad area plus a number of other counties could also be designated non - attainment . Boothe described other violating areas as Person , Granville , Mecklenburg , Ashville area , and Rocky Mount . MSA areas were identified as Fayetteville , Alamance , Nash , and Edgecombe counties . McIver asked what happens to the ozone layer overnight . Booth described ozone " scavenging " where the ozone starts to decrease and then builds back up during the next day . It depends on which way the winds are blowing . The mountain sites show high levels due to transport from other areas . Page 5 of 8 DRAFT