LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — On Monday, officials with the Arkansas Department of Energy and Environment issued an Ozone Action Advisory for some parts of Central Arkansas.
According to the agencies, ozone action days are public awareness days that are aimed at informing the community about potential harmful ground-level pollution.
Executive Director of the Metroplan Board of Directors, Casey Covington explained how it usually occurs during the summer months when they typically see an uptick in vehicle emissions and of people mowing their lawns.
He also explained how those repeated actions mixed with a hot summer day can land us under this type of advisory.
"Ozone is great in the air when you look at the sky, it protects you from the sun. But it's not good when we have too high levels at the ground, because that's where our people can run into issues," Covington described.
Right now, Central Arkansas is listed under the "orange category" which presents unhealthy pollution levels for sensitive groups of people.
This type of advisory can lead to problems down the road, including chest pain, coughing, and congestion or fatigue and overheating.
"We're encouraging people to take actions to reduce emissions, but also to notify those that may be impacted. So, if somebody has asthma or some other condition, they may want to be careful today or the next couple of days due to that condition and the high level Ozone," Covington added.
Fortunately, there is an opportunity to turn this situation around. Convington advised people to limit errands, refuel during the evening hours, and limit engine idling.
"Minor steps that people take can bring us back into better air quality, and we certainly want those that have medical conditions that could impact them to be aware and take steps to protect themselves," Covington said.