NWA Issues Code Orange Air Quality Alert Due to Ozone

The Arkansas Department of Energy and Environment's Division of Environmental Quality has placed Northwest Arkansas under a Code Orange air quality alert for Friday, Oct. 9. This designation officially marks an "Ozone Action Day".

According to officials, air conditions during an Ozone Action Day can be harmful to active children and adults, as well as individuals within sensitive groups. Those with preexisting respiratory conditions - such as asthma, emphysema, or bronchitis - are strongly encouraged to limit prolonged physical exertion outdoors to protect their health.

To help reduce the concentration of ozone pollution, residents are asked to modify their daily routines. Officials recommend refueling vehicles and lawn equipment either before 7 a.m. or after 7 p.m. Additionally, drivers should avoid topping off their gas tanks and take care to prevent fuel spills. Other suggested measures to lower emissions include carpooling, utilizing public transportation, combining multiple errands into a single trip, and minimizing unnecessary driving, particularly during peak commuting hours and the hottest parts of the day.

An Ozone Action Day is triggered when ozone levels are projected to exceed the federal 8-hour standard. To help the public understand these levels, the Air Quality Index (AQI) uses a color-coded system:

• Green: Good air quality.
• Yellow: Moderate conditions.
• Orange: Unhealthy for sensitive groups.
• Red: Unhealthy conditions for the general population.
  
  
  

  Share this article...