The Pima County Department of Environmental Quality has issued an air quality alert specifically concerning ground-level ozone levels in the Tucson metropolitan area, advising residents, particularly those vulnerable to air pollution, to be cautious. According to the PDEQ announcement, individuals with a heightened sensitivity to ozone could experience a range of respiratory issues from shortness of breath to wheezing.
If you're susceptible to ozone's impacts, consider limiting your outdoor activities, particularly those that are physically demanding between the hours of noon and sunset when the ozone levels are more likely to peak. Elevated heat and sunlight can increase the ground-level ozone, a concern that especially applies to children, adults engaged in outdoor activities, those suffering from respiratory diseases, and some who may have a unique sensitivity to ozone, according to the PDEQ release.
Ozone at ground level isn’t created, it’s spawned by a mixture of pollutants like motor vehicle exhaust, industrial outputs, and chemical solvents – all stewing under our Arizona sun. The PDEQ urges the public to adopt habits that could alleviate the generation of this pollutant, including carpooling, using public transportation, avoiding vehicle idling, and refueling after dark. Other tips include sealing paint containers properly and opting for low-VOC products, as part of a broader effort to mitigate the release of nitrogen oxides and volatile organic compounds that catalyze ozone formation, as described in the PDEQ guidelines.
To keep track of air quality and receive updates on Ozone Action Days, residents can visit the PDEQ's website, which offers real-time data from its 16 monitoring locations across the region. The Clean Air Program of PDEQ also has resources available geared towards educating residents on the health risks posed by elevated air pollution levels, and promoting actions to decrease it. For those interested in receiving air quality updates, PDEQ has made sign-ups available on their website.
