The Indiana Department of Environmental Management has issued an Air Quality Action Day today for our area after forecasting high ozone levels.
The Air Quality Action Day is in effect for central and southeast Indiana, according to an IDEM press release.
Brown County is one of the 13 counties listed in central Indiana.
To help reduce ozone IDEM encourages people to do the following in their daily habits today:
- Walk, bike, carpool or use public transportation
- Avoid using the drive-through and combine errands into one trip
- Avoid refueling your vehicle or using gasoline-powered lawn equipment until after 7 p.m.
- Turn off your engine when idling for more than 30 seconds
- Conserve energy by turning off lights or setting the air conditioner to 75 degrees or above
Children, the elderly and anyone with heart or lung conditions should reduce or avoid exertion and heavy work outdoors today, according to the release.
To learn more about ozone or sign up for air quality forecasts, visit www.SmogWatch.IN.gov.
“Ground-level ozone is formed when sunlight and hot weather bake vehicle exhaust, factory emissions and gasoline vapors. Ozone in the upper atmosphere blocks ultraviolet radiation, but ozone near the ground is a lung irritant that can cause coughing and breathing difficulties,” the release states.
