Pay attention to air quality in summer
The Southwest Ohio Air Quality Agency issued an Air Quality Alert yesterday (May 25) for Butler, Clermont, Hamilton and Warren counties in Ohio; Boone, Campbell, and Kenton counties in Kentucky; and Dearborn County in Indiana.
Additional Air Quality alerts can be expected when conditions in the Tri-State are hot and muggy and ozone levels reach the “unhealthy for sensitive groups” range on the Air Quality Index (AQI).
On Air Quality Alert days, you can help reduce ozone formation by taking these actions:
- When possible, take the bus, carpool, bike, or walk instead of driving.
- Refuel your vehicle after 8 p.m., do not top off when refueling, and tighten the gas cap.
- Do not idle your vehicle; exhaust contributes considerably to ozone formation.
- Combine trips or eliminate unnecessary vehicle trips.
- Keep your vehicle maintained with properly inflated tires and timely oil changes.
- Avoid use of gasoline-powered lawn equipment on Air Quality Alert days.
- Avoid use of oil-based paints and stains on Air Quality Alert days.
- Never burn leaves or other yard trimmings.
- Suspend use of fire pits, campfires, and charcoal grills on Air Quality Alert days.
- Conserve electricity by turning out lights and unplugging unused appliances and electronics.
The Agency (which employs CState Environmental Engineering Technology interns and graduates) uses seven ozone monitors– located throughout Butler, Clermont, Hamilton, and Warren counties– to collect air quality data 24 hours a day.
To learn more about local air quality and how the Air Quality Agency does its work, visit: