Unhealthy Air Expected In Central Ohio, Especially For Sensitive Groups

Heads up, Columbus! If you’re planning to spend time today, you might want to think twice.

The Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission (MORPC) has issued an Air Quality Alert for today, Wednesday, July 30, warning that ozone pollution levels are expected to reach “Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups” in parts of Central Ohio, including Franklin, Delaware, Licking, and Fairfield counties.

Basically, that means the air could be rough on the lungs, especially for kids, older adults, and anyone with asthma or other respiratory conditions. The Air Quality Index (AQI) is expected to hit 101, and anything over 100 isn’t great news for folks with health concerns.

So, what’s causing the funk in the air?

A perfect mix of weather conditions: calm morning winds, a temperature inversion trapping pollutants close to the ground, and highs in the low 90s with lots of sunshine. Basically, the atmosphere is cooking up some extra ground-level ozone.

If you’re in a sensitive group, MORPC recommends limiting prolonged outdoor activity or sticking to the early morning hours when ozone levels are lower. And if you’ve been feeling a little wheezy or short of breath, it’s probably a good idea to check in with your doctor.

So what can you personally do to help clear the air?

Obviously, no one person can tackle the larger factors that contribute to poor air quality in general, but that doesn’t mean that we can’t take steps to lessen our own impacts during the alert tomorrow.

Skip the car if you can. Try carpooling, biking, or using public transit.

Don’t idle your engine (yes, even in the drive-thru).

Hold off on mowing the lawn or filling up your gas tank until after sunset.

You can sign up for Air Quality Alert notifications here, and find commute options to reduce your emissions at Gohio Commute.