Conneticut’s Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) is forecasting unhealthy air quality for “sensitive groups” Friday, May 8, due to predicted elevated ground-level ozone pollution for northern Fairfield, Northern New Haven, Litchfield, Hartford and Tolland counties.

A forecast of “Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups” indicates increased likelihood of respiratory symptoms and breathing discomfort in active children and adults with respiratory disease, such as asthma, and the elderly. 

Ground level, or “bad,” ozone primarily occurs during very warm summer days. Strong sunshine causes chemical reactions of air pollutants emitted from motor vehicles, power plants and industry and household activities, forming ozone. Warmer weather can bring high levels of ground level ozone (O3) and fine particulate matter (PM2.5). These two air pollutants pose serious health risks to “sensitive groups,” according to the state agendy.

Unhealthy concentrations of ground level ozone can cause or make worse a variety of respiratory and other health problems including breathing difficulty, coughing, and throat irritation and worsen asthma episodes. Anyone can be affected by ozone; particularly sensitive groups that include children, elderly, people with respiratory disease, such as asthma, and even healthy adults who are very active outdoors.

Weather Summary

High pressure currently located off mid-Atlantic Coast today and Friday will continue to transport warmer air and pump elevated levels of ozone from downwind air pollution sources into Connecticut, according to DEEP. In addition to transported air pollution, “home grown” pollution will be intensified by the combination of strong May sunlight and later than usual blooming spring vegetation that also contributes to ozone levels at this time of year.

A back door cold front will cross the area late Friday afternoon, switching the wind to the south and southeast ushering cooler ocean air, thus reducing high concentrations of ground level ozone on Saturday, the DEEP stated.

The National Weather Service, on advice from the CT DEEP, has issued an Air Quality Alert to be in effect on Friday, May 8, from 11 am until 11 pm.

Ozone Monitoring Season

DEEP monitors, tracks and forecasts daily air quality levels across Connecticut for ozone from May 1 through September 30 each year and for fine particulate matter (PM2.5) each day of the year.

On April 30, 2015, DEEP began informing Connecticut’s regulated community and the general public of the ozone season via the State of Connecticut e-mail list serve and posting air quality forecasts on the DEEP web page, available here.

DEEP encourages daycare providers, summer camps and elder/senior centers to subscribe to the Air Quality Index (AQI).

Subscribing is fast and easy, and will provide state residents with important information each day about Connecticut’s air quality through the spring and summer. The AQI link provides facts and information regarding ground-level ozone, its health effects, and most importantly what can be done do to help reduce ground level ozone in backyards.

Recommendations

When air pollution levels are predicted to be “unhealthy for sensitive groups” DEEP recommends:

*Conserving electricity by setting air conditioners to 78 degrees;

*“Wait ‘til 8” to use energy intensive appliances like washing machines, dryers and dishwashers;

*Driving less by carpooling, vanpooling or using public transit;

*Telecommuting if possible;

*Refueling a vehicle after dusk and never idling a vehicle unnecessarily; and

*Remembering that knowledge is power. Ask at local schools to find out if they participate in the School Flag Program, EPA’s Air Quality awareness tool that uses colored flags based on the AQI to notify teachers, students, administrators and the local community of air quality conditions. 

There are several ways to stay connected and access the daily AQI forecast and real-time air quality data:

*Follow on Twitter. The general account for Connecticut DEEP is @ConnDEEP, but the department also has city- and town-specific tweets generated by the EPA's EnviroFlash system, providing the date and air quality forecast for Bridgeport, Danbury, Greenwich, Groton, Hartford, Madison, Middletown, New Haven, Stafford, Stratford, Torrington and Westport; sign up for any of those specific tweets here);

*Sign up to get Air-Quality alerts through Enviroflash;

*Visit DEEP’s AQI webpage or call 800-249-1234; and/or

*Go to EPA’s AIRNow web page.