State officials have extended Air Quality Action Day into Friday for Johnson County.
Forecasters with the Indiana Department of Environmental Management extended the air quality alert as they expected ozone levels to continue to be in the Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups (Orange) range, with Air Quality Indexes of between 101-150 expected. High temperatures are expected to reach the 90-degree mark again Friday across most, if not all of Indiana, which combined with slightly lower humidity in the afternoon along with light and variable winds, may lead to ozone levels that reach this range, according to a news release from IDEM.
A large portion of the eastern United States has been under a “stubborn” dome of high pressure the last several days. With no change in airmass, officials expect elevated ozone for another day, they said.
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.
