The Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) declared Monday an Air Quality Action Day because of elevated ozone levels and smoke from Canadian wildfires.
The state predicted poor air quality Monday for the following counties in southern Indiana:
- Clark
- Davies
- Dubois
- Floyd
- Gibson
- Greene
- Knox
- Perry
- Pike
- Posey
- Spencer
- Vanderburgh
- Warwick
Multiple wildfires in Nova Scotia have consumed an area of forest unparalleled in the province’s history and smoke is traveling southwest across the eastern United States.
Jonathan Raff, an IU professor who studies the chemistry of air pollution, said local weather conditions interact with wildfire smoke to worsen health outcomes for Hoosiers.
Read more: Fire is a factor in the health of Indiana forests
“We didn't have a lot of wind during these higher pollution of episodes, and what that allows is the polluted airmass to kind of sit here and for the air pollution to just build up in intensity,” Raff said.
Sunlight interacts with gases from wildfires to create ozone, a gas that in high concentrations can cause a adverse health effects, even from short-term exposure.
Ozone, smoke and high temperatures may cause burning eyes and lungs, phlegm and trouble breathing. Raff said some groups are more at risk than others.
“For older individuals or people who have already preexisting health effects (like) cardiovascular problems, it could lead to heart failure, stroke, that sort of thing.”
Indiana has experienced poor air quality over the past several summers as megafires became a seasonal occurrence out west.
IDEM recommends driving less, conserving power indoors and avoiding exertion outdoors.
Updates on air quality can be found at SmogWatch.IN.gov
