EFFECTIVE: June 23 and June 24, 2012
The Evansville Environmental Protection Agency and the Vanderburgh County Health Department have issued an OZONE ALERT for Saturday, June 23 and Sunday, June 24, 2012 because ambient concentrations of ozone may reach or exceed the level of the National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS) for ozone and the Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups range.
The current ozone NAAQS was set by the U.S. EPA in 2008 at an eight-hour average of 76 parts per billion (ppb). Per the Air Quality Index (AQI), eight-hour ozone levels between 76 to 95 ppb are considered to be Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups such as children and active adults, and people with respiratory diseases like asthma. http://www.epa.gov/airnow/ozone-c.pdf
Within a few hours or days, exposure to higher levels of ozone can cause lung and throat irritation, shortness of breath, increase the frequency of asthma attacks and aggravate respiratory diseases such as asthma, emphysema and bronchitis. Children, active adults, and people with respiratory diseases should limit prolonged outdoor exertion especially between 12:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. when ozone levels are highest.
NO OPEN BURNING is allowed during Ozone Alerts. THERE ARE BURN BANS IN EFFECT FOR MOST COUNTIES IN S.W. INDIANA (see http://www.in.gov/dhs/files/burn-ban/), INCLUDING VANDERBURGH COUNTY.
To do your share to protect air quality and reduce pollution levels:
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