Indianapolis, IN – Much of Indiana is under an Air Quality Alert today as officials warn of potentially unhealthy ozone levels affecting sensitive groups throughout the state.
According to the Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM), multiple regions, including Indianapolis, Seymour, Richmond, and as far south as Corydon and Jeffersonville, are expected to experience ozone concentrations that could be “Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups” until midnight Wednesday.
Alerts cover over two dozen counties, including Marion, Hamilton, Bartholomew, Floyd, and Ripley, affecting major cities such as Indianapolis, Bloomington, Muncie, and Louisville suburbs in southern Indiana. The Louisville Metro Air Pollution Control District has also issued a Code Orange alert for the metro region.
Ozone, the primary component of smog, can trigger breathing difficulties, especially for children, the elderly, and individuals with preexisting respiratory issues such as asthma or COPD. Officials are urging these groups to minimize prolonged outdoor exposure.
Residents are encouraged to take several voluntary precautions to help reduce ozone formation, including carpooling, delaying refueling vehicles until after 7 p.m., avoiding drive-thrus, and reducing the use of gasoline-powered equipment during the day.
IDEM suggests conserving energy indoors as well by raising thermostats and turning off unused lights. Outdoor tasks like mowing or refueling should be postponed until later in the evening.
A separate alert for parts of eastern Indiana, including Richmond and Brookville, extends into Thursday night.
To monitor local conditions or find tips on reducing air pollution, residents can visit the IDEM SmogWatch website at https://apps.idem.in.gov/smogwatch.
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