NEWS FROM THE DELAWARE DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL
July 16, 2008
Vol. 38, No. 329
For more information contact David Fees, Air Quality Management Section, 302-739-9402 or Melanie Rapp, Public Affairs, 302-739-9902.
Code Red – Air Quality Action Alert – Issued for Thursday; Code Red May Extend into Friday
DOVER, Del. – DNREC’s Air Quality Management Section announced that a Code Red Air Quality Action Alert has been issued for Thursday, July 17 as ground-level ozone will reach levels that could be harmful to public health.
“We anticipate that ground-level ozone concentrations will increase rapidly during the mid-late morning hours tomorrow, and with light winds and sunny skies in the afternoon, ozone is expected to reach Code Red levels,” said David Fees, manager with the Air Quality Management Section. “Friday could also be a Code Red day with sunny skies, light winds and increasing humidity forecast. This could be the worst episode so far this summer.”
Ground-level ozone forms when high temperatures and sunlight combine with pollution from vehicles, industries and businesses. Young children, seniors, people with asthma and other respiratory diseases and those who work or exercise outdoors are most susceptible to the ill effects of ozone, which can harm the lungs and contribute to other respiratory problems.
Because the weather influences the formation of ground-level ozone, high levels can be predicted. In most cases, air quality forecasts, which include ozone, are made a day in advance, by 2 p.m. and valid for the next day.
DNREC’s Air Quality Management Section encourages citizens to take steps to help reduce ozone air pollution. These measures include refueling gas tanks during cooler parts of the day, keeping your vehicle properly tuned to keep exhaust levels low, limiting lawn mowing or using hand mowers, adjusting thermostats to reduce air conditioning, and closing blinds during the day. A comprehensive list of actions is posted on DNREC’s website, www.dnrec.delaware.gov and click on “Air Quality Forecast.”
