An Air Quality Action Day will be in effect Sunday for Johnson County.
Officials with the Indiana Department of Environmental Management have declared an Air Quality Action Day for ozone. Ozone levels are expected to be in the Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups range — with Air Quality Indexes of between 101-150 expected, according to an alert from the National Weather Service.
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.
Active children and adults, along with people with respiratory diseases such as asthma, should limit prolonged outdoor exposure, according to the alert.
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.
