High-pollution advisory in Phoenix area today

June 24, 2009

The Arizona Republic

Maria Polletta

The Arizona Department of Environmental Quality has issued a high-pollution advisory for the Phoenix area for Wednesday, citing "unhealthy" levels of ozone.
 
A mix of swiftly-increasing ozone levels and decreasing afternoon winds created the hazardous conditions, the department said.
 
Due to the conditions, a no-burn day restriction for Maricopa County will be enforced until midnight Wednesday. Under the restriction, residents and businesses cannot burn wood in fireplaces, woodstoves or outdoor fire pits. 
 
The department also encouraged those in the area to limit outdoor activity during the afternoon, when ozone levels will be most concentrated. Adults and children with respiratory problems to stay are encouraged to stay inside after noon.
 
The restrictions Wednesday will end what Maricopa County Air Quality Department director Lawrence Odle called a "tremendous reprieve" of several weeks without air quality advisories, which had been much more prevalent at this time last summer.
 
"Last year, we had quite a number of high pollution advisories and health watches," said Department of Environmental Quality spokesman Mark Shaffer. "Now we're coming off 20 days in June that have just been unbelievable in coolness and winds. Now that we're coming out of it, we're going back to those conditions (that threaten air quality)," Shaffer said.
 
Some other suggestions to reduce air pollution on advisory days:
 
• Carpool or use public transportation.
 
• Get gas after 4 p.m.
 
• Be careful not to spill gas when filling up.
 
• Don't use gas-powered lawn and garden equipment.
 
• Seal containers of household cleaners, garden chemicals and other products. to prevent harmful gases from evaporating.
 
• Dispose of such containers properly.

 


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