The Dayton area is in danger of not meeting new federal standards on lung-damaging ozone, and that could have powerful implications for new business coming — or not coming — to the area, public officials said.

“If the area is (not meeting the standards), there could be restrictions on business growth through the air-permitting process that I think no one wants,” said Matt Lindsay, manager of environmental planning for the Miami Valley Regional Planning Commission.

Such restrictions status could affect whether new manufacturers are able to use one of the several former General Motors or Delphi plants in the area, said John Paul, director of the Dayton-based Regional Air Pollution Control Agency.

“We could have a lot of things that could be going in our favor that could be derailed” by not meeting the standards, Paul said.

Updated federal ozone standards were set in 2008, Lindsay said. The issue is that during recession years of 2008 through 2010 the Dayton area — Montgomery, Clark, Greene and Miami counties — met the standard, Lindsay said. The area met the standard of 75 parts per billion of ozone at that time, he said.

But the area average for the years 2009 through 2011 show that the area is now “just over” the standard, Lindsay added.

The recession may have let the area hit the standard in the three years starting in 2008, Lindsay said.

“When the economy is down, people drive less, industrial facilities have a lower level of output,” he said.

So far in 2012, the area has already had a couple of “exceedance days,” Lindsay said. And there are concerns that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency could tighten ozone standards even further.

“Nonattainment means you don’t meet the standard. The chances are possible that we would be designated for nonattainment for ozone next year,” Paul said. “That would then restrict new industry coming into the area.”

RAPCA and regional planning commission leaders have scheduled a 10 a.m. Wednesday public meeting at the commission’s community room, 1100 W. Third St., to discuss Dayton area’s air quality and where the region is headed, Paul said.

Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2390 or tgnau@coxohio.com.com.