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Thank you to the City of Toledo Division of Environmental Services for partnering with TMACOG to conduct the the 2011 Gas Cap Replacement Program.

Click here for the 2011 Gas Cap Summary

Please check back in June for the 2012 Gas Cap Replacement Program event schedule!

"I thought ozone protected us from ultra violet rays?"

Depends on where it is. The ozone layer, miles above the earth, protects you. But ground-level ozone, what earthlings call smog, can be harmful to children, the elderly, and anyone with respiratory problems. Ozone can destroy lung and airway tissue in much the same way the sun damages your skin.

"According to The American Lung Association, air pollution:"

• Contributes to asthma, emphysema, lung cancer and bronchitis.
• Soils clothes, houses, and automobiles.
• Makes paint peel and discolor.
• Rusts and tarnishes metals.
• Reduces visibility and sunlight.
• Destroys plants and crops.
• Deteriorates statues, monuments, and buildings.

Your gas cap could be leaking regardless of the age of your car, but the odds are higher if your gas cap is more than 3 years old. Significant numbers of cars are leaking gas fumes through their gas caps. This wastes gas and money and adds to our area’s pollution problem. Every leaking gas cap = 199 pounds more pollution in our air every year.

"What can I do?"

Practice “Clean Air Car Care”

• Perform regular maintenance as recommended for your car.

• Use the right fuel as recommended by the owner’s manual.

• Keep tires aligned and inflated properly.

• Have the catalytic converter, ignition, timing, and/or carburetor inspected if you are having problems stalling or using fuel faster than usual.

If your gas cap is leaking, you could be losing about two tanks of gas each year through evaporation—even more if your gas cap is missing. The evaporated chemicals from your gas tank combine with sunshine and heat to form ground-level ozone.

Let's keep a cap on air pollution!