Air Quality Action Day issued for 23 counties
INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — The Indiana Department of Environmental Management is forecasting high ozone levels on Thursday in three regions across Indiana and has issued an Air Quality Action Day.
Residents of Central, Southeast and Southwest Indiana are encouraged to help reduce ozone by making adjustments to their daily habits. IDEM says this can be accomplished by driving less, keeping vehicle engines tuned, avoiding gas station trips and gasoline-powered lawn equipment after 7:00 p.m., turning off lights and setting thermostats to 75 degrees or above.
According to IDEM, the high ozone levels may affect anyone who is sensitive to changes in air quality; those with heart or lung conditions, children and the elderly should reduce or avoid exertion and heavy work outdoors.
Although ozone in the upper atmosphere blocks ultraviolet radiation, ground-level ozone that is formed when sunlight and hot weather combine with emissions like vehicle exhaust acts as a lung irritant that can cause coughing and breathing difficulties, IDEM says.
The affected Indiana counties are Bartholomew, Boone, Brown, Clark, Daviess, Delaware, Dubois, Floyd, Gibson, Greene, Hamilton, Hendricks, Howard, Knox, Madison, Marion, Perry, Pike, Posey, Shelby, Spencer, Vanderburgh and Warrick.
The Air Quality Action Day will be in effect June 17 from midnight until 11:59 p.m.