NWS Little Rock, AR - Ozone Action Days

Know the Facts

Ozone is becoming more of a topic of conversation...especially during Summer. Learn more about ozone below.

	Air Quality/Keeping Ozone Levels Down

The months of May through September are the most common months for significant ground-level ozone concentrations in Arkansas. When the Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) expects the 8-hour average of ozone concentrations to reach or exceed 85 parts per billion, an Ozone Action Advisory will be declared. When ADEQ expects the 8-hour average of ozone concentrations to reach or exceed 105 parts per billion, an Ozone Action Alert will be declared.

Note: Arkansas counties included in the program are Faulkner, Grant, Lonoke, Perry, Pulaski and Saline.

There are several air quality categories to note. If the forecast calls for an orange category (i.e. "Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups"), an Ozone Action Advisory is posted. If the forecast calls for a red category (i.e. "Unhealthy"), an Ozone Action Alert is posted. The categories are as follows:

	No health impacts are expected.

	Unusually sensitive people should consider limiting prolonged outdoor exertion.

	Active children and adults, and people with respiratory disease such as asthma should limit prolonged outdoor exertion.

	Active children and adults, and people with respiratory disease such as asthma should avoid prolonged outdoor exertion. Everyone else should limit prolonged outdoor exertion, especially children.

	Active children and adults, and people with respiratory disease such as asthma should avoid all outdoor exertion. Everyone else should limit outdoor exertion, especially children.

Click the links below to learn more about ozone and to check out the latest ozone forecast. To help keep ozone levels down, read the Do and Don't columns below the links.

Questions and Answers about Ozone

Latest Daily Air Quality Index/Ozone Forecast for the Little Rock Metro Area

Refer to the air categories above to understand the forecast. Remember, if an orange or red category is expected, an Ozone Action Advisory (for orange) or Ozone Action Alert (for red) will be in effect.

Ozone Monitors (Latest Hourly Readings)

Ozone Action Days Website

To keep ozone levels down:

Do:

	limit your driving. Share a ride, carpool, walk or ride the bus.
	combine as many errands as possible.
	keep your car well tuned, avoid jackrabbit starts and excessive idling.
	stay indoors as much as possible.

logo used by permission (on file)

Ozone Action Days are a program of Metroplan and the Central Arkansas Clean Cities Coalition, in cooperation with the Department of Health, Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ), and the State Highway and Transportation Department.

Ozone is formed in the lower atmosphere on hot windless days when volatile organic compounds (VOCs), such as gasoline and paint fumes, interact in sunlight with nitrous oxide (NOx) emissions from motor vehicles, gasoline powered lawn mowers, and various other combustion activities.

When high ozone concentrations are forecast, Ozone Action Days are declared by the Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ).

To keep ozone levels down:

Don't:

	do lawn and garden chores that require gas powered equipment.
	use oil-based paints and solvents.
	use products that release fumes or evaporate easily.
	refuel. If you must, do it after dark and don't fill the tank completely.
	exercise outdoors.

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http://www.weather.gov/lzk/ozone2.php