Health Advisories Issued for National Parks

Today – Wednesday, May 23, 2012

Current Ozone Health Advisories:

No national parks are issuing ozone health advisories.
Health Effects of Ozone »

Current Particulate Matter (PM_2.5) Health Advisories:

No national parks are issuing particulate matter (PM_2.5) health advisories.
Health Effects of Particulate Matter »

Deteriorating air quality due to high pollutant levels of ozone and particulate matter cause the National Park Service to issue air quality health advisories at several national parks. These parks include:

• Acadia NP
• Grand Canyon NP
• Great Smoky Mountains NP
• Mammoth Cave NP
• Rocky Mountain NP
• Sequoia & Kings Canyon NPs
• Shenandoah NP

Both ozone and particulate matter concentrations in National Park Service areas periodically exceed Environmental Protection Agency health standards. Whenever ozone or particulate matter concentrations exceed or are predicted to exceed these health standards, park personnel post health advisories cautioning visitors of the potential health risks associated with exposures to elevated levels.