Ozone levels in Maricopa County are on the rise, and it's not good news for residents. An Ozone High Pollution Advisory (HPA) has been declared for Friday, June 6, 2025, by the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ). This alert comes with some stark warnings and several recommendations to limit exposure and contribute to the overall reduction of pollutants.
The main culprits of ground-level ozone are vehicle emissions, industrial processes, and other chemical reactions made worse by sunlight. With the longer days of spring and summer, it's no surprise that the issue is rearing its ugly head now – not that it has one, but if it did it would surely be sneering at us all, as we scramble to figure out how to breathe easier. The ADEQ recommends that everyone, especially those with respiratory issues, limit their time outdoors while the advisory is in effect.
Children, with their still-developing lungs, and more active outdoor routines, are at higher risk, as are adults with asthma or other lung diseases, and the elderly. In response, the ADEQ and Maricopa County Air Quality Department (MCAQD) have suggested a slew of actions the public can take. These include smart choices like teleworking to cut down on traffic, carpooling, avoiding long drive-thru lines, opting for walking or biking to work, and ensuring household chemicals are well sealed.
But it doesn't stop at individual actions. Some restrictions are in place as well, "Wood burning in residential fireplaces, chimeneas, outdoor fire pits, and similar outdoor fires is prohibited in Maricopa County." this includes anyone who has open burning permits, reported the ADEQ. Even tasks like leaf blowing are being put on pause—unless it's done by the wind, in which case we can only begrudgingly accept the natural world's lack of concern for our advisory days.
For those who are looking for ways to keep up with air quality, MCAQD offers a clean air app that's available on both the App Store and Google Play. With resources handsomely compiled to keep everyone informed and safe, this web of precautions and recommendations is all in service of MCAQD’s mission: "to improve the air of Maricopa County so customers, residents, and visitors can live, work, and play in a healthy environment," as their mantra goes. Folks can also follow the department's updates on various social media platforms.
