Tagged: air pollution

Louisville's Air Pollution Control District says the potential exists for unsafe ozone levels today and tomorrow in the metro area.

The Air Quality Index is forecast to be 109 today, and 129 tomorrow. These levels are unhealthy for sensitive groups, including the elderly, the young and people with heart or lung conditions.

For hourly air quality updates, call 574-3319.

There was no air quality alert in effect yesterday, but air quality monitors show that ozone levels were at unhealthy levels in at least two areas.

The Cannons Lane monitor recorded levels at 83 parts per billion, which translates to an Air Quality Index of 119. At Watson Lane Elementary, levels were at 90 parts per billion, which is an AQI of 137. Levels between 101 and 150 are considered unhealthy for sensitive groups.

This was the 17th day with an ozone exceedance so far this year.

A new report from by the Sierra Club estimates how much sulfur dioxide is emitted from nine Kentucky power plants and it finds that all nine of them—including the Mill Creek and Cane Run power plants in Louisville—are violating the national air quality standards.

Sulfur dioxide has been linked to health issues like pulmonary inflammation, asthma, emphysema and other lung conditions.

The Louisville Air Pollution Control District is predicting elevated levels of ozone on Monday, July 16. The Air Quality Index is forecast to be 106, which is unhealthy for sensitive groups. 

This is the 19th Air Quality Alert so far this year. The area has exceeded ozone standards 15 times this summer. For hourly air quality updates, call (502) 574-3319.