Alert Day for Ozone Issued for May 28

Air quality concerns have prompted environmental officials to alert the public about the prospect of increased levels of air pollution in the Central Oklahoma region. Local officials have issued an ACOG Ozone Alert Day for Friday, May 28. This is the first Alert Day of the year.

Because of immediate health concerns for people that may be susceptible to the effects of air pollution, residents in the metro area are encouraged to reduce air pollution by adapting their daily routines.

On May 28, there are a few simple things that people can do to help “clear the air:”
•     Riding the bus on Ozone Alert Days in Oklahoma City and Norman is FREE. Call 235-RIDE, or 325-CART for route information. METRO Transit and Cleveland Area Rapid Transit (CART) provide these services. Riding the bus is also free in Edmond on Ozone Alert Days, as well as every other day. Services are provided by Citylink Edmond. For route information, visit edmondok.com or call 417-6068.
•     Gas up the vehicle in the evening. Ozone needs sunlight in order to form.
•     Avoid lawn mowing. Older, two-cycle gasoline-powered lawn mowers running for one hour emit as many pollutants as a car driven from Oklahoma City to Houston!
•     If you have to gas up, avoid “topping off” the tank.
•     Avoid unnecessary vehicle trips, or try to combine as many trips into one outing.
•     Carpooling takes one car off of the road for every rider.
•     Drive the speed limit on highways. Motor vehicles emit fewer pollutants when driven at a consistent speed at or below 65 mph.

In Oklahoma, ground-level ozone, the primary component of smog, is a health and environmental concern from May to September. Ozone is formed by nitrogen oxides and volatile organic compounds mixing in the presence of intense sunlight. Automobiles and gasoline-powered engines are a primary source for these pollutants. Industrial machinery, lawn and garden equipment, recreational boats, drying paint and charcoal grills are some of the other sources. Little or no wind further adds to situations when high amounts of ozone can be created.