The Evansville Environmental Protection Agency and the Indiana Department of Environmental Management have issued an OZONE and PARTICULATE ALERT for Friday, September 2, 2011. Ambient concentrations of Ozone and Fine Particulate Matter (PM2.5) may reach the Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups level of the National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS).
The current ozone NAAQS was set by the U.S. EPA in 2008 at an eight-hour average of 76 parts per billion (ppb). Eight-hour ozone levels between 76 to 95 ppb on the Air Quality Index (AQI) scale are considered to be Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups, such as children and active adults, and people with respiratory diseases like asthma. The current PM2.5 NAAQS is set at a twenty-four hour midnight to midnight average of 35 micrograms per cubic meter (35µg/m3). People considered most sensitive to particulate matter include children, the elderly, and anyone with heart or lung disease.
Health Effects – Particulates:
According to the U.S. EPA: Short-term exposures to particles (hours or days) can aggravate lung disease, causing asthma attacks and acute bronchitis, and may also increase susceptibility to respiratory infections. In people with heart disease, short-term exposures have been linked to heart attacks and arrhythmias. Healthy children and adults have not been reported to suffer serious effects from short-term exposures, although they may experience temporary minor irritation when particle levels are elevated.
To minimize health effects of particulate matter:
• Try to postpone physically strenuous activities until air quality improves.
• Avoid prolonged exertion – take rest breaks.
• Use an indoor air filter if you have one because PM2.5 may be higher inside buildings.
• If you experience shortness of breath, chest pains or have difficulty breathing – call your health care provider.
PM2.5 can be high at any time of the day, therefore advising when to avoid exposure is problematic. Near real-time PM2.5 readings are available at: http://leads.idem.in.gov/cgi-bin/idem/daily_summary.pl?cams=10
Health Effects – Ozone:
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.
Open burning is not allowed during Ozone Alerts. The use of gas and charcoal grills is permitted, but we encourage postponing grilling until air quality improves.
To do your share to protect air quality and reduce pollution levels:
• USE PUBLIC TRANSIT
• CONSERVE ENERGY of all kinds – turn off lights; reduce air conditioner use, etc.
• Limit your driving. Avoid unnecessary vehicle idling.
• Park and go inside instead of using drive-through windows, especially if there are long lines.
• Postpone fueling your vehicle until after 6:00 p.m. Don’t ‘top-off’ your tank when filling up.
• Consider using electric or manually operated lawn equipment. If you use gasoline-powered lawn and garden equipment, stop working at 10:00 a.m. and / or postpone work until after 6:00 p.m.
• Limit the use of solvents, parts cleaning fluids, paint thinners and chemicals. Replace lids when finished.
• Postpone painting or use water-based paints instead of oil-based paints.
Near real-time data, forecasts and more information can be found at: www.airnow.gov and www.evansvillegov.org/epa
