Ozone, Pollution Levels Heading Higher Today

Health officials are warning that higher levels of both ozone and particulate pollution are expected today to go along with the heat.

Air quality is expected to be in the orange level, meaning that it will be unhealthy for sensitive groups such as active children and adults and people with respiratory diseases such as asthma. These people are advised to limit outdoor exertion, especially during the afternoon.

An ozone alert for today has been issued by the Evansville Environmental Protection Agency and the Vanderburgh County Health Department. The National Weather Service at Paducah, Ky., is expecting temperatures to reach above normal and into the mid-90s today and Wednesday, with only light winds.

“Air quality is already in the moderate range (Sunday and Monday) for both ozone and particulate matter,” said Joanne Alexandrovich of the Health Department.

The calm atmospheric conditions mean there will not be a “clean out” of air over the Evansville area and pollution could build up, she said.

Vanderburgh and Warrick counties are currently in nonattainment federal standards for both ozone and fine particle pollution.

Ozone is formed when nitrogen oxide and other chemical pollutants combine with oxygen in the sunlight. Ozone can trigger a variety of health problems, and long-term exposure can cause permanent lung damage. It also damages plants and ecosystems.

Particulate matter, according to the Indiana Department of Environmental Management, is the term for particles in the air, including dust, dirt, soot, smoke and even liquid. Some are large or dark enough to be seen as soot or smoke, but others are so small that individually they cannot be seen with the naked eye.

It also is associated with serious health effects and environmental damage.

Fine particles can be suspended in the air for long periods of time. They can either be emitted directly, from sources such as vehicles and factories or indirectly formed when gases from burning fuels react with sunlight and water vapor. These gases come from fuel combustion in motor vehicles, power plants and other industrial processes.