The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is responsible for setting National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for pollutants considered harmful to public health and the environment. Newly there are six principal NAAQS pollutants; they are often called criteria pollutants.

Of those six, ground-level ozone and particle pollution pose the most widespread health threats. However, they all have the potential to cause damage to human health and the environment. SCDES's Bureau of Air Quality maintains a monitoring network for all criteria pollutants and provides the monitoring information to the public and the EPHT program.

SCDES Air Pollution Reduction Strategies

Breathe Better (B2)
B2 (Breathe Better) is an anti-idling/clean air campaign designed to help protect public health on school and business campuses by reducing harmful vehicle emissions. Students, faculty, staff, and local community partners work together to provide solutions.

Driving Smarter
Vehicles contribute substantially to air pollution and can have negative impacts on human health and the environment. This effort teaches you how you can help reduce vehicle miles traveled (VMT) and mobile source emissions to improve air quality.

Ozone Forecast                                                                                                                                                                                   SCDES meteorologists provide next-day ground-level ozone forecasts from March 31st to September 30th to allow the public to be proactive about protecting their health by reducing outdoor activities and by reducing their own contributions to emissions when ozone concentrations are expected to be high. If ozone levels are forecast to reach unhealthy levels (exceeding the ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standard), SCDES will declare an 'ozone action day' advising people to reduce their activity levels outdoors, especially for those with respiratory conditions, such as asthma.

Take Action

Protect you and your family and do your part to help reduce ground-level ozone.

• Know the ground-level ozone forecast.
• Limit exercise and outdoor work and activities on high-level ozone days.
• Drive less.
• Shop by internet during ozone season.
• Telecommute or work flex hours.

Protect you and your family and do your part to help reduce particulate matter.

• Avoid dusty and smoky areas.
• Don't exercise near busy roads.
• Reduce energy usage to reduce local air pollution and save money.
• Mulch or compost leaves and yard waste instead of burning it.
• Use battery-powered lawn and garden equipment.