Environment

The Louisville Air Pollution Control District has issued an Air Quality Alert for Friday. Ozone levels are expected to be high enough to be unhealthy for everyone--a 156 on the Air Quality Index. This is the fourth Air Quality Alert issued so far this week, and the 17th so far this summer.

For hourly air quality updates, call (502) 574-3319.

Coming up at 1:00 this afternoon, WFPL will air "Gas Planet: The Impact of the Natural Gas Boom on Climate Change." This hour-long documentary produced by The Allegheny Front examines the rise of natural gas, fueled by low prices, abundant resources and a lower carbon footprint than coal.

In the past three months, Jeffersonville has had eight combined sewer overflows, or CSOs. This is when water levels rise and the city’s sewer system releases untreated sewage and wastewater into the Ohio River so it doesn’t back up into people’s homes. The releases pollute the river and spread E. coli bacteria.

The Louisville Air Pollution Control District is forecasting unhealthy levels of ozone for Independence Day and July 5.

The high temperatures and lack of wind will trap pollution near the city, raising ozone levels. The city's air is expected to be a 122 on the Air Quality Index tomorrow, which is unhealthy for sensitive groups. It's predicted to be slightly lower on Thursday--a 116--but still unhealthy for sensitive groups. These are the 15th and 16th Air Quality Alerts of the summer.

 The high heat and lack of consistent rainfall is creating possible hardships for crops in Kentucky.  And that includes one of the more recent additions to the state’s agriculture industry: grapes.

There are about 120 grape growers spread out across Kentucky, mostly in the central, northern, and western regions. Patsy Wilson is the extension specialist for viticulture at the University of Kentucky—viticulture is the science, production and study of grapes. She says temperatures above 90 degrees can start to affect photosynthesis.

Louisville's Air Pollution Control District has issued air quality alerts for Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday. The heat wave is exacerbating pollution problems, and ozone levels each day are expected to be unhealthy for sensitive groups. Ozone levels today are forecasted to be unhealthy for everybody. 

From the APCD:  

Here are Air Quality Index forecasts:   

Friday, June 29--156 (unhealthy for everyone)

Saturday, June 30 – 150 (unhealthy for sensitive groups)

Sunday, July 1 – 150 (unhealthy for sensitive groups)