State officials have extended an Air Quality Action Day into Friday for all of Indiana.
Officials with the Indiana Department of Environmental Management say air quality will be in the Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups (orange) level all day Friday. The alert had initially been issued for only Thursday, but was extended on Thursday morning, according to an IDEM news release.
High ozone levels are forecasted because of a significant increase in temperatures across the state and a continued air mass from Canadian wildfires, officials say.
Ground-level ozone is formed when sunlight and hot weather combine with 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 for sensitive populations, officials say.
Sensitive groups should reduce or avoid exertion and heavy work outdoors during these conditions, according to IDEM.
Officials say the public should consider taking the following actions to help improve air quality:
- Carpool or use public transportation;
- Avoid using the drive-thru and combine errands into one trip;
- Turn off engines instead of idling for long periods of time;
- Avoid using gas-powered equipment;
- Conserve energy by turning off lights and setting the air conditioner to a higher setting;
- Use propane gas instead of charcoal when grilling outdoors.
As a reminder, officials say Indiana’s open burning laws make it illegal to burn trash and generally prohibit open burning. Residents can visit IN.gov/idem/openburning/ for more information.
More air quality information can be found at SmogWatch.IN.gov or by going to AirNow.gov.
