Arizona Department of Environmental Quality issued the following announcement on Aug. 1.
The Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) is issuing a High Pollution Advisory (HPA) for ozone in the Tucson area, effective August 3 and 4, 2018. This HPA is due to levels expected to exceed the federal health standard for ozone.
People most affected by ozone include children, senior citizens, people who work or exercise outdoors and people with pre-existing respiratory disease. Ozone can irritate the respiratory system, aggravate asthma and reduce the immune system’s ability to fight off respiratory infections. Ozone-related health problems include shortness of breath, coughing, wheezing, headaches, nausea, plus throat and lung irritation.
ADEQ and the Pima County Department of Environmental Quality (PDEQ) recommend residents and businesses use the following tips and resources to reduce ozone pollution and make the air healthier to breathe:
Drive as little as possible, carpool, use public transit or telecommute | Sun Tran > | Sun Link >
Re-fuel your vehicle in the evening
Avoid waiting in long drive-thru lines, for example, at coffee shops, fast-food restaurants or banks – park your car and go inside
Use low-VOC (Volatile Organic Compounds) or water-based paints, stains, finishes and paint strippers – delay big painting projects
Make sure containers of household cleaners, garage and yard chemicals and other solvents are sealed properly to prevent vapors from evaporating into the air
For the month of August, ADEQ has also issued HPAs for the Tucson area on:
BACKGROUND
High Pollution Advisory (HPA): Notifies the public that the level of an air pollutant is expected to exceed the federal health standard
Health Watch: Notifies the public that the level of an air pollutant is expected to approach the federal health standard
Ozone: Ground level ozone is formed by a chemical reaction among sunlight, nitrogen oxides (NOx) and VOCs
Original source can be found here.
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