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Air Quality

Spartanburg County, along with other Upstate counties, was designated a nonattainment area, with levels of ground level ozone higher than the EPA standards permit over a three-year-period. When inhaled, even at very low levels, ozone can cause acute respiratory problems, aggravate asthma, cause inflammation of lung tissue and significant temporary decreases in lung capacity. Ground level ozone also interferes with the ability of plants to produce and store food, damaging plants and reducing crop yields.