NORTH LITTLE ROCK— An OZONE ACTION ADVISORY has been declared for May 26, 2023 and May 27, 2023, for Central and Northwest Arkansas. The Arkansas Department of Energy and Environment, Division of Environmental Quality (DEQ) forecasts ozone concentrations in Central and Northwest Arkansas that indicate outdoor activities may be unhealthy for active children and adults, and for individuals in sensitive groups.
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. On an Ozone Action Day public agencies, private business, and the general public should take voluntary actions to reduce ground-level ozone formation. Active children and adults, and individuals with respiratory conditions should take precautions to reduce health-risks associated with ozone exposure.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Air Quality Index (AQI) provides standardized color codes for forecasting and reporting daily air quality. Green signifies good air quality; yellow means moderate air quality; orange represents unhealthy pollution levels for sensitive groups of people; and red warns of unhealthy pollution levels for all.
An Ozone Action Day is declared when the AQI is forecasted to be Code Orange or higher. On an Ozone Action Day, young children, the elderly, and those with respiratory problems—such as asthma, emphysema, and bronchitis—are especially vulnerable to the effects of air pollution and should limit outdoor activities.
To help reduce ozone emissions, please follow these recommendations:
- Refuel cars and lawnmowers before 7:00 am or after 7:00 pm, avoid fuel spills, and do not “top off” tanks
- Carpool or use mass transit
- Combine errands instead of taking separate vehicle trips
- Do not drive unnecessarily, especially during peak commuting hours or during the hottest part of the day
To check the daily ozone forecasts for Arkansas, go to adeq.state.ar.us. To see daily U.S. ozone levels maps, go to airnow.gov.
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