An Air Quality Action Day will be in effect Thursday for Johnson County.
Forecasters with the Indiana Department of Environmental Management are expecting ozone levels to be in the Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups (Orange) range, with Air Quality Indexes of between 101-150 expected. Continuing high temperatures that are expected to reach the lower 90s, along with modest humidity, may lead to ozone levels at this level Thursday, according to a news release.
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.
IDEM forecasted Air Quality Action Days indicate anticipated higher levels of ground-level ozone and fine particulate matter only. Other factors may affect overall air quality.
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.
