INDIANAPOLIS — High ozone levels are forecast for the Indianapolis region and two other areas of the state on Friday.
That's prompted the Indiana Department of Environmental Management to issue an Air Quality Action Day in these areas:
- Central Indiana – Marion, Bartholomew, Boone, Brown, Delaware, Hamilton, Hancock, Hendricks, Johnson, Madison, Monroe, Morgan and Shelby.
- Southeast Indiana – Clark, Floyd, Harrison, Jackson, Jefferson, Scott and Washington.
- Southwest Indiana – Daviess, Dubois, Gibson, Greene, Knox, Perry, Pike, Posey, Spencer, Vanderburgh and Warrick.
Here's what you can do to help the environment and yourself on an action day:
- Walk, bike, or work from home when possible.
- Combine errands into one trip.
- Avoid refueling your vehicle or using gasoline-powered lawn equipment until after 7 p.m.
- Turn off your engine when idling for more than 30-seconds.
- Conserve energy by turning off lights or setting the air conditioner to 75 degrees or above.
Air Quality Action Days begin at midnight. Anyone sensitive to changes in air quality may be affected when ozone levels are high. Children, the elderly and anyone with heart or lung conditions should reduce or avoid exertion and heavy work outdoors.
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.
