INDIANAPOLIS – The Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) has issued an AirQuality Action Day (AQAD) and is forecasting high ozone levels for Tuesday, June 14, 2022, in the following regions:
- Central Indiana – Marion County, Bartholomew County, Boone County, Brown County, Delaware County, Hamilton County, Hendricks County, Howard County, Madison County, Shelby County
- North Central Indiana – St. Joseph County, Elkhart County
- Northeast Indiana – Allen County, Huntington County, Wabash County
- Northwest Indiana – Lake County, Porter County, LaPorte County
- Southeast Indiana – Clark County, Floyd County
- Southwest Indiana – Daviess County, Dubois County, Gibson County, Greene County, Knox County, Perry County, Pike County, Posey County, Spencer County, Vanderburgh County, Warrick County
- West Central Indiana – Vigo County, Carroll County, Tippecanoe County
IDEM encourages everyone to help reduce ozone by making changes to daily habits.
- Drive less: carpool, use public transportation, 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.
- Keep your engine tuned, and don’t let your engine idle (e.g., at a bank or restaurant drive-thru)
- Conserve energy by turning off lights and setting the thermostat to 75 degrees or above
AQADs are in effect from midnight to 11:59 p.m. on the specified date. 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 are combined 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 for sensitive populations.
IDEM examines weather patterns and current ozone readings to make daily air quality forecasts. AQADs generally occur when weather conditions, such as light winds, hot and dry air, stagnant conditions, and lower atmospheric inversions, trap pollutants close to the ground.
To learn more about ozone or to sign up for air quality alerts, visit SmogWatch.IN.gov.
Knozone Action Day
A Knozone Action Day has also been declared for Indianapolis.
Our office has decided to call TUESDAY, JUNE 14 a #KnozoneActionDay. 🚨
🌬️🌎 Sensitive groups, including those with asthma & COPD, should avoid spending much time outdoors due to unhealthy levels of ozone.
— Indy Office of Sustainability (@SustainIndy) June 13, 2022