MEDIA CONTACT
Amanda Woita, Nebraska Department of Environment and Energy, (402) 471-4245; amanda.woita@nebraska.gov
Alycia Davis, (531) 249-8079, alycia.davis@nebraska.gov
Issued for: June 15, 2023
Affected Area: Omaha-Council Bluffs Metropolitan Area
Air Quality Index: Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups
Potential Air Quality Impacts Due to Elevated Ozone Levels
The Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) and the Nebraska Department of Environment and Energy (NDEE) are expecting higher concentrations of ground-level ozone in the Omaha-Council Bluffs region today. The elevated ozone levels appear to be associated with smoke from Canadian wildfires.
The elevated ozone concentrations may pose a risk to the health of children, aging individuals, and those with chronic respiratory problems such as asthma, emphysema, and bronchitis. To minimize exposure, outdoor activities should be limited during peak ozone hours (afternoon/evening).
Ground-level ozone is expected to peak in the Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups range of the Federal Air Quality Index (AQI) for today. Elevated ozone levels may extend throughout the week.
During Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups AQI (orange category) conditions, members of sensitive groups may experience health effects. Sensitive groups include people with heart or lung disease, older adults, and children. When conditions rise to the orange category, sensitive groups are advised to reduce prolonged or heavy exertion and avoid intense outdoor activities. Everyone else can remain active and adjust activity duration and intensity as needed. The current Environmental Protection Agency standard for acceptable ozone is set at 70 parts per billion (8-hour average). Hourly ozone levels for today may be at or higher than the standard.
Steps the public can take to help reduce ozone include:
- Driving less – carpool and combine errands into a single trip, or take the bus
- Avoid letting vehicles idle for more than 30 seconds
- Choosing cleaner-burning biofuels such as ethanol blends and biodiesel
- Mowing during cooler hours if using gas-powered lawn equipment or using an electric or manual mower
Advisories are issued for areas of anticipated impact by notifying the media and local health departments and posting information on the Nebraska DHHS and NDEE web pages and social media sites. These advisories provide information to the public on the anticipated impacts and air quality and health resources to help citizens protect their health and minimize exposure to pollutants of concern.
States monitor pollutant levels and weather conditions to determine when impacts on air quality are anticipated. Advisories are based on data from the National Weather Service (NWS), smoke plume modeling, and ambient air quality monitors located in Omaha, Davey, and Santee, Nebraska.
The following Air Quality Index (AQI) is used. This AQI is used nationally and is available in real-time for Nebraska by visiting https://www.airnow.gov.
For more information on ozone and its health effects visit:
https://www.epa.gov/ground-level-ozone-pollution/health-effects-ozone-pollution
https://www.cdc.gov/air/ozone.html
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