Air Quality Watch for Ozone
FDL County Air Alert for Tuesday June 23, 2009
Date: 6/23/2009 – 11:45 PM
Location:

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources is issuing an Air
Quality Watch for Ozone for Brown, Calumet, Dodge, Door, Fond du Lac,
Jefferson, Kenosha, Kewaunee, Manitowoc, Milwaukee, Ozaukee, Racine,
Sheboygan, Walworth, Washington and Waukesha counties effective 12:01
am on Tuesday, June 23, 2009 through 11:59 pm on Tuesday, June 23,
2009 .

The watch is being issued because of the forecast for elevated levels
of ground level ozone. Ground level ozone is formed when pollution
from power plants, factories and other industrial sources, vehicle
exhaust, and volatile organic compounds chemically reacts with hot
temperatures, high humidity and atmospheric stagnation.

The Air Quality Index is forecast to reach the orange level, which is
considered unhealthy for people in sensitive groups and others,
including people who are not in sensitive groups but who are engaged
in strenuous outside activities or exposed for prolonged periods! of
time. People in those sensitive groups include th ose with respiratory
diseases, such as asthma, older adults, and active adults and
children. When an air quality watch is issued, people in those groups
are advised to reschedule or cut back on strenuous outside activities
during the watch period.

People with lung diseases such as asthma and bronchitis should pay
attention to shortness of breath, or respiratory symptoms like
coughing, wheezing and discomfort when taking a breath, and consult
with their physician if they have concerns or are experiencing
symptoms. Ground level ozone can irritate the respiratory system,
reduce lung function, aggravate asthma and chronic lung diseases, and,
over time, cause permanent lung damage.

For more information and to receive air quality advisories by e-mail,
visit www.fdlhealthyair.com

There are several actions the public can take to reduce their
contributions to this regional air quality problem.

* Reduce driving when pos! sible and don’t leave vehicle engines
idling.
* Post pone activities that use small gasoline and diesel
engines.
* Minimize wood burning.
* Conserve electricity.
* For more ideas on how you can reduce your emissions today and
every day visit: Do a little, save a lot!

For more information:

* Air Quality Watches and Advisories Status Web Site
* Daily Air Quality Hotline – 1-866-324-5924 (1-866-DAILY AIR)
* Federal interagency air quality web site, for information on the
Air Quality Index and nationwide air quality forecasts and air quality
conditions, http://airnow.gov
* DNR’s statewide air quality monitoring web page,
http://dnrmaps.wisconsin.gov/wisards
* For local DNR air management program contacts, http://dnr.w!
i.gov/air/about/regions.htm