BENTON COUNTY, ARKANSAS, Ark. — The Arkansas Department of Energy and Environment has declared an "Ozone Action Advisory" for Benton and Washington counties, but what does that mean?
The advisory was issued on Oct. 4 by the ADEE's Division of Environmental Quality, or ADEQ, after forecasting that ozone concentrations in Northwest Arkansas could make outdoor activities unhealthy.
A release from ADEE indicated that weather conditions allowing for higher ozone concentrations today will be in place throughout the weekend.
"In cooperation with the Arkansas Department of Health (ADH), DEQ has issued a 'Code Orange' Air Quality Advisory for Ozone, because of projected monitored concentrations above the 8-hour National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS) of 0.070 parts per million," ADEE said.
Orange in this context represents unhealthy pollution levels for sensitive groups of people, ADEE added.
An Ozone Action Day, such as today's Ozone Action Advisory, is issued when the Air Quality Index is forecasted for orange or higher.
Amid what they call an Ozone Action Day, ADEE suggests that agencies, businesses, and the general public should "take voluntary actions to reduce ground-level ozone formation."
The following are recommended actions to reduce ozone levels:
- Refuel cars and lawnmowers before 7 a.m. or after 7 p.m. — avoid fuel spills and don't top off tanks
- Carpool or use mass transit
- Combine errands instead of separate vehicle trips
- Don't drive unnecessarily, especially during peak commuting hours or hot parts of the day
Additionally, ADEQ said that active children and adults, as well as people with respiratory conditions, should take measures to reduce health risks during this time, which includes limiting outdoor activities.
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