What should you avoid on ozone alert days?
OZONE ALERT DAY TIPS Delay gas-powered lawn mowing and landscape maintenance. Avoid outdoor burning and avoid using higher VOC household chemicals and paints.
What time of day is ozone The worst?
Key Facts to Know About Ozone: Ozone is worse in the afternoon and early evening, so plan outdoor activities for the morning. You can reduce your exposure to ozone and still get exercise!
What time of year are high ozone levels more prevalent?
The months when high ozone is most common are between May and June and between August and October. “Moderate” ozone levels have been recorded as early as February and as late as November. High ozone levels are less likely to occur on Sundays than any other day of the week due to lower mobile source emissions.
What can we do to avoid Ozone Action Days?
Ozone Action Day Tips
- Conserve electricity and set your air conditioner at a higher temperature.
- Choose a cleaner commute — share a ride to work or use public transportation.
- Defer use of gasoline-powered lawn and garden equipment.
- Refuel cars and trucks after dusk.
- Combine errands and reduce trips.
How can you tell if you are being affected by ozone?
People exposed to elevated levels of ozone may experience a variety of symptoms. The most common symptom is a feeling of irritation in the eyes, nose and throat. Some people may also experience respiratory or heart symptoms such as shortness of breath, chest pain, and wheezing.
Can I mow during ozone alert?
Wait to fill your gas tank or mow your lawn until after 7 p.m. Fueling during the day adds to the buildup of pollutants, while fueling in the evening allows fumes to dissipate at a faster rate. A gas lawn mower also releases fumes that dissipate overnight.
Does rain reduce ozone?
Hot Weather Thankfully, humidity can help to decrease ozone pollution. Afternoon thunderstorm clouds block sunlight, causing ozone production to slow down for the day, while moisture from the storm destroys the ozone that has formed.
How do you know if you’re sensitive to ozone?
What seasons are Ozone Action Days?
Each day during ozone season (roughly March through November in Texas), Ozone Action Day forecasts are made for nine participating metropolitan areas (Austin, Beaumont-Port Arthur, Corpus Christi, Dallas-Fort Worth, El Paso, Houston, San Antonio, Tyler-Longview, and Victoria).
Which season has the most Ozone Action Days?
Because ozone formation relies on weather conditions associated with warm weather, it occurs during the spring and summer months, from April through September.
Can you recover from ozone exposure?
The effects are reversible, with improvement and recovery to baseline varying from a few hours to 48 hours after an elevated ozone exposure.
What are ozone alert days?
An Ozone Action Day is declared when weather conditions are likely to combine with pollution emissions to form high levels of ozone near the ground that may cause harmful health effects.
Why should you refuel after dusk?
Refuel in the evenings after dusk. By refueling after the sun goes down, fuel vapors do not have as much of a chance to “cook” in the mid-day sun and become harmful ground-level ozone. Maintain your vehicle. A poorly-maintained vehicle can pollute as much as 25 times more than a well-maintained one.
Can ozone cause permanent damage?
Ozone damages the cells that line the air spaces in the lung. Within a few days, the damaged cells are replaced and the old cells are shed–much in the way skin peels after a sunburn. If this kind of damage occurs repeatedly, it may lead to permanent damage to your lungs that could cause a lower quality of life.
How does temperature affect ozone?
Higher temperatures are generally associated with higher ozone levels, while higher relative humidity is generally associated with lower ozone levels.
Is air quality better in the morning?
The best air quality was recorded in the afternoon, at 3 pm, with PM 2.5 levels reaching as low as 20.76 μg/m3. Mornings were the worst time, with PM 2.5 levels reaching as high as 108.16 μg/m3 at 7 am. Air quality gradually improved as the day wore on, registering the cleanest air at 4 pm (22.84 μg/m3).
Why is the air quality unhealthy in Houston today?
Why does Houston have unhealthy air quality? Houston’s unhealthy air quality is primarily attributable to ozone pollution.
What are four health risks of ozone exposure?
Breathing ground-level ozone can trigger a variety of health problems including chest pain, coughing, throat irritation, and congestion. It can worsen bronchitis, emphysema, and asthma. Ozone also can reduce lung function and inflame the lining of the lungs. Repeated exposure may permanently scar lung tissue.