OMAHA, Neb. (KMTV) — The Metro Area Planning Agency and the Douglas County Health Department have declared an air quality action day due to a higher ozone forecast. They say higher ozone levels can pose health risks to some people and have offered a number of tips to help mitigate the problem.
In their release they say:
The Omaha-Council Bluffs Metropolitan Area Planning Agency (MAPA) and the Douglas County Health Department declare today an Air Quality Action Day. Higher concentrations of ground-level ozone in the Omaha-Council Bluffs metropolitan area are forecasted for today.
The Douglas County Health Department forecasts ground-level ozone in the upper end of the “moderate range” of the Federal Air Quality Index (AQI) for today.
As a reminder, to help mitigate the ozone problem, everyone is urged to take the following steps:
- Choosing cleaner-burning biofuels such as ethanol blends and biodiesel when refueling vehicles
- Refuel at dusk or nighttime to avoid greater loss of fuel through evaporation
- Avoid letting vehicles idle more than 30 seconds
- Drive less by carpooling, walking, biking or taking the bus
- Use electric or manual lawn equipment when possible, or use gas-powered equipment during cooler hours of the day.
Elevated ozone concentrations may pose a risk to the health of children, the elderly and those with chronic respiratory problems such as asthma, emphysema and bronchitis.
