Tagged: ozone

The summer has just begun, and Louisville has already seen dangerously high levels of ozone pollution on thirteen days. Scientists are predicting that ozone could become an even bigger problem as average temperatures rise.

Ozone is created when pollution from cars and smokestacks cooks in summer heat. Louisville’s seen a lot of it lately, and nearly every week there’s been at least one warning that the air outside could be unhealthy for at least some people.

The Air Pollution Control District has confirmed that Louisville’s air quality was poor on Friday, as predicted.

The District has issued seven Air Quality Alert days this year—but those are just days the agency expects the air quality will be poor. So far, only one of those has panned out—plus an additional day of bad air where there was no Air Quality Alert. During both days, the APCD’s air monitors recorded levels of ozone that exceeded healthy levels.

The Louisville Air Pollution Control District has issued an air quality alert for Friday and Saturday. Ozone levels are forecasted to be high, and unhealthy for sensitive groups including the elderly, the young, and anyone with heart or lung ailments.

These are the sixth and seventh alerts issued this year. The alerts are predictions, and so far, the air has not exceeded health standards on any alert days. However, yesterdaythere was no alert, and ozone levels did reach an unhealthy level for sensitive groups. It was the first time that happened this year.