The Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) has issued an Ozone High Pollution Advisory for Maricopa County this Wednesday, September 4, 2024. According to official announcements, there is an expectation for ozone levels to build up past the federal health standard, prompting concerns for public health and a call for action to mitigate the impact.
Ozone at ground level is not a friend to the air we breathe; it's formed when the various pollutants from vehicles, industrial activities, and everyday chemical use meet the sunlight. With longer days in spring and summer, these conditions are prime to, unfortunately, create an uptick in harmful ozone pollution. Everyone in Maricopa County could feel the effects, but children, with their developing lungs and higher activity levels, along with adults with asthma, are particularly at risk during the advisory period.
During the HPA, residents are strongly urged to limit outdoor activities, especially those that include vigorous physical exertion. As per recommendations by the ADEQ and Maricopa County Air Quality Department (MCAQD), the public should consider the following measures to help lower ozone levels: teleworking whenever feasible to reduce congestion on the roads; embracing carpooling, public transportation, biking, or walking; avoiding idling in long drive-thru queues by parking and stepping inside establishments; and fueling vehicles post-sunset or during less warm evening hours.
Moreover, residents are asked to exercise environmentally-conscious choices in daily tasks: opting to sweep rather than use gas-powered leaf blowers, choosing low-VOC paints, and ensuring tight sealing on containers of chemicals to prevent evaporation into the already beleaguered air. To learn more about air pollution reduction, the public can visit the county's website, Maricopa.gov/AQ.
Restrictions that accompany the HPA include a prohibition on wood burning across multiple platforms, such as residential fireplaces and outdoor fire pits. The use of leaf blowers by government employees and contractors is also barred, and recreational off-road vehicle use is discouraged for the advisory's duration. This is part of the ongoing effort to improve air quality and safeguard residents' health against the invisible yet palpable threat posed by high ozone levels.
