KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The
Mid-America Regional Council has issued an orange
ozone alert for Friday.
The alert means an unhealthy level of ozone pollution, or smog, is expected in our area. In an orange alert, the air quality is unhealthy for people who are sensitive to air pollution such as children, seniors and people with breathing or heart problems.
People who are sensitive to air pollution should limit their exposure to outdoor air between 10 a.m. and 7 p.m. Everyone should consider scheduling outdoor activities before 10 a.m. or after 7 p.m.
You can help reduce pollution by carpooling, taking the bus, postponing mowing, and postponing refueling vehicles.
On ozone alert days,
fares for regular bus routes are only 50 cents.
The Mid-America Regional Council says there are steps you can take on ozone alert days:
- Cut back on or reschedule strenuous outside activities. Stay indoors in a well-ventilated or air-conditioned building. If you must be active outdoors, try to schedule activity before 10 a.m. or after 7 p.m.
- Drive less. Combine errands and put off less-necessary trips for a cooler day, carpool, or use public transit. Better yet, take a leisurely walk or bike ride, preferably early in the morning or later in the evening.
- Avoid fueling. Simply filling your vehicle with gasoline can lead to pollution as fumes escape and tiny drips and spills occur, and gas vapors react with heat and sunlight to form ozone. If you must fill your tank, do so after dusk. And be sure to avoid “topping off” your tank.
- Mow later. Lawn and garden equipment is responsible for an estimated 9 percent of the Kansas City area’s ozone-forming emissions. Postpone yard work that involves power equipment until the Ozone Alert is over.
