Ozone day

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Available On Air Stations • On Air Now Playing KUT 90.5 FM • On Air Now Playing BBC World News | KUT HD2 • On Air Now Playing KUTX 98.9 FM • On Air Now Playing Austin Music Experience | All Austin musicians and artists | KUTX HD2 • On Air Now Playing Texas Music Experience | Listen anytime at tmx.fm | KUTX HD3 Thursday is an Ozone Action Day in Austin. This happens when the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality determines the smog levels in the city are high enough to pose health risks. Ozone, a type of gas, can be good or bad depending on where it is. Ozone in the upper atmosphere protects us from the sun's ultraviolet rays, but when found at the ground level, it's known as smog, which can affect people's health and the environment, according to the When you inhale the ozone gas, it can react with the molecules in your respiratory system, causing health effects, particularly for people with asthma or heart health issues. Luke Metzger, executive director of Environment Texas, said there are multiple factors that cause high ozone levels. “It's a combination of everything,” Metzger said. “From cars to tailpipe exhaust to gas stations, all kinds of fumes that are coming from when we gas up our cars, as well as factories, refineries, and then also consumer products like paint.” Primarily, though, it comes from the combustion of fossil fuels, like gas or diesel. Ozone Action Days tend to be issued by the state's environmental quality commission when temperatures are warmer,...

WICHITA, Kan. (KWCH) - The City of Wichita issued an Ozone Alert Day on Friday. The goal is for residents and businesses are asked to take action to reduce the emissions that create ozone. The city said actions you can take to keep ozone levels low include: • Refuel when it’s cool (after 6 pm or after dark); • Walk or ride your bike to work;Delay mowing and paint projects; • Stop fueling at the sound of the click; • Take your lunch to work to avoid driving; • Turn off your car - don’t idle more than 30 seconds; and • Postpone errands For updates on this Ozone Alert, follow the City of Wichita on Facebook. More information on ozone can be found at www.BeAirAwareKS.org. Copyright 2023 KWCH. All rights reserved. To report a correction or typo, please email [email protected]

4. What should I do when ozone levels are unhealthy? Ah, summer. A time to run through sprinklers, soak up sunshine on a lazy afternoon, play sports outside from dawn to dusk, host backyard barbecues, and camp out under the stars. Or is it? Summer is a time for fun, but as temperatures skyrocket and air becomes stagnant, ozone and air pollution rise to dangerous levels and prolonged exposure can cause respiratory problems for everyone. What exactly is ozone? There are two types of ozone layers in our atmosphere: a protective layer of ozone in the upper atmosphere (called the stratosphere) that screens out harmful ultraviolet rays from the sun; and harmful ozone in the lower atmosphere (called the troposphere), that poses significant health risks to people. It is the major component of the air pollution known as smog. Harmful ozone is the chemical formed when emissions called hydrocarbons and nitrous oxides from motor vehicles, power plants or some industries interact with sunlight. Increased levels of ozone usually occur during the summer months when temperatures are high, days (and subsequently sunlight) last longer, and air movement is minimal. And while you can’t taste, touch or smell ozone, you can FEEL it as it irritates sensitive body tissue causing stinging eyes, shortness of breath, chest pain, wheezing and coughing. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Who is most at risk from ozone exposure? Several groups of people are particularly sensit...