Bill Penny
Bill Penny

Bill Penny is a Member in the Nashville office of Stites & Harbison. He is a member of the firm's Environmental, Natural Resources and Energy Service Group as well as the Green Industry Practice Group. Bill has more than 25 years experience in environmental law. You can contact him at william.penny@stites.com or by phone at 615-782-2308.

Martin Corinne
Corinne Martin

Corinne Martin is an Associate in the Nashville office of Stites & Harbison. She is a member of the Environmental, Natural Resources & Energy Service Group, the Green Industry Practice Group, and the Business Litigation Service Group. cmartin@stites.com or by phone at 615-782-2218.

air

The Knoxville Area Reduces Smog

03.03.11 2:19 PM
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After monitoring data throughout the ozone season, USEPA has just announced that the Knoxville area (which includes the entire counties of Anderson, Blount, Jefferson, Knox, Loudon, and Sevier, plus the portion of Cocke County within the Great Smoky Mountains National Park) meets the federal standards for ozone, a primary component of smog.

This achievement in the Knoxville area resulted from the collaboration of federal agencies, state and local officials, private industry, and residents of the area to improve the air quality and reach a significant clean air milestone. Perhaps even more significant than achieving compliance with the health-based standard established in 1997 is the fact that the Knoxville area has introduced measures and a plan to ensure that the area continues to meet this standard.

Meeting the ozone standard is important to reducing the amount of smog in the air. Smog is formed when air pollutants (principally ozone, nitrogen oxides, and volatile organic compounds) are released from cars and factories, among other sources, and then are heated by the sun.
Without oversimplifying, smog and specifically ozone can cause wheezing, shortness of breath, and chest pain. While asthmatics, children, and older adults are consider more susceptible to negative health effects when exposed to ozone, even healthy people may suffer adverse health effects when ozone concentrations are high. Reducing those levels is a good thing for the Knoxville area and ultimately the entire region.
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