Air Quality – Ozone Alert Extended

It is going to be a hot and hazy weekend and the EPA have issued an alert for the entire weekend!

The EPA is recommending that sensitive groups such as children, older adults, and those with respiratory diseases limit prolonged outdoor exertion especially between the hours of 12:00 and 7:00 p.m. when the highest Ozone concentrations are most likely to occur.

Within a few hours or days, exposure to higher levels of Ozone can cause lung and throat irritation, shortness of breath, and aggravate respiratory diseases such as asthma, emphysema and bronchitis.  For more information about Ozone and your health please go to: http://www.epa.gov/airnow/ozone-c.pdf

To do your share to protect air quality and reduce pollution levels:

• Conserve energy – turn off lights, reduce air conditioner use, etc.
• Use Public transit, or limit driving and avoid unnecessary idling and drive-through windows, especially if there are long lines.
• Postpone refueling your vehicle until after 6:00 p.m.; don’t ‘top-off’ the tank when filling up.
• Consider using electric or manually operated lawn and garden equipment.   If you use gasoline-powered equipment, try to avoid use between 10:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m.
• Limit the use of cleaning fluids, paint thinners or other materials containing volatile organic compounds (VOC).
• Postpone painting projects or use low-VOC coatings.
• OPEN BURNING IS PROHIBITED during an air quality alert.  The use of gas and charcoal grills for cooking is permitted, however delaying until after 6 p.m. is recommended.

Near real-time data, forecasts and more information may be found at:  www.airnow.gov and www.evansville.in.gov/epa.