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Administrative Draft Environmental Impact Report Gill Medical Center Project Carbon Monoxide CO in the urban environment is associated primarily with the incomplete combustion of fossil fuels in motor vehicles. CO combines with hemoglobin in the bloodstream and reduces the amount of oxygen that can be circulated through the body. High CO concentrations can cause headaches, aggravate cardiovascular disease and impair central nervous system functions. CO concentrations can vary greatly over comparatively short distances. Relatively high concentrations of CO are typically found near crowded intersections and along heavy roadways with slow moving traffic. Even under the most severe meteorological and traffic conditions, high concentrations of CO are limited to locations within relatively short distances of the source. Overall CO emissions are decreasing as a result of the Federal Motor Vehicle Control Program, which has mandated increasingly lower emission levels for vehicles manufactured since 1973. Nitrogen Oxides Nitrogen gas comprises about 80 percent of the air and is naturally occurring.At high temperatures and under certain conditions, nitrogen can combine with oxygen to form several different gaseous compounds collectively called nitric oxides (NOx). Motor vehicle emissions are the main source of NOx in urban areas. NOx is very toxic to animals and humans because of its ability to form nitric acid with water in the eyes, lungs, mucus membrane, and skin. In animals, long-term exposure to NOx increases susceptibility to respiratory infections, and lowering resistance to such diseases as pneumonia and influenza. Laboratory studies show that susceptible humans, such as asthmatics,who are exposed to high concentrations can suffer from lung irritation or possible lung damage. Precursors of NOx, such as NO and NO2, attribute to the formation of 03 and PM2.5. Epidemiological studies have also shown associations between NO2 concentrations and daily mortality from respiratory and cardiovascular causes and with hospital admissions for respiratory conditions. Ozone 03 is a secondary pollutant, meaning it is not directly emitted. It is formed when volatile organic compounds (VOCs) or ROGs and NOx undergo photochemical reactions that occur only in the presence of sunlight.The primary source of ROG emissions is unburned hydrocarbons in motor vehicle and other internal combustion engine exhaust. NOx forms as a result of the combustion process, most notably due to the operation of motor vehicles. Sunlight and hot weather cause ground-level 03 to form. Ground-level 03 is the primary constituent of smog. Because 03 formation occurs over extended periods of time, both 03 and its precursors are transported by wind and high 03 concentrations can occur in areas well away from sources of its constituent pollutants. People with lung disease, children, older adults, and people who are active can be affected when 03 levels exceed ambient air quality standards. Numerous scientific studies have linked ground-level 03 exposure to a variety of problems including lung irritation, difficult breathing, permanent lung damage to those with repeated exposure, and respiratory illnesses. Air Quality 4.5-3 October 2021