Residents in Metro Nashville and the surrounding counties are on notice, as a Code Orange Air Quality Alert looms over the region. Issued for the area through midnight Friday, this alert flags that specific air quality levels could pose health risks for certain people, according to WKRN. Predominantly, individuals with heart and lung issues, as well as the elderly and children, should limit their outdoor activities during this time.
The alert applies to a swath of Middle Tennessee, including counties Cannon, Cheatham, Davidson, Dickson, Hickman, Macon, Maury, Robertson, Rutherford, Smith, Sumner, Trousdale, Williamson and Wilson. The Air Quality Index, which the alert is based upon, indicates that the concentration of ground-level ozone may reach levels that are unhealthy for sensitive demographics. The general public, meanwhile, is less likely to be affected, but that doesn't let us off the hook entirely – if you're active outdoors or a person with a respiratory condition, such as asthma, limiting prolonged physical activity outside is advised, WSMV reports.
What's causing this atmospheric hiccup? A perfect storm of warm, sunny weather coupled with light winds and low humidity, which provides the stage for airborne pollutants to accumulate and react with sunlight, thus leading to increased ground-level ozone – the main component in smog. This isn't just murky air we're talking about; it's a cocktail of chemical reactions harmful to humans and the environment, detailed in depth by The Tennessean.
Friday is expected to see these conditions persist, with ozone levels holding steady in the Code Orange range. With such forecasts, all eyes are on the vulnerable – those with lung diseases, children, the elderly and anyone regularly engaging in outdoor activities. These individuals are especially encouraged to moderate their time spent outside or to eschew strenuous outside exertion, according to the United States Environmental Protection Agency. Despite the caution surrounding the current air quality, we mustn't overlook the power and reliability of local weather-tracking resources. Stay apprised of the situation with your local weather authority or by downloading suitable mobile apps to help navigate this and future air quality predicaments.
