The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation has issued a Code Orange Air Quality Alert for Nashville and surrounding areas. The alert is in effect until midnight, Monday.
Counties in the alert include: Cannon, Cheatham, Davidson, Dickson, Hickman, Macon, Maury, Robertson, Rutherford, Smith, Sumner, Trousdale, Williamson, and Wilson. According to the National Weather Service, ground level Ozone concentrations within the region may approach or exceed unhealthy standards.
What does a Code Orange Air Quality Alert mean?
During a Code Orange alert the general public is not likely to be affected, however, members of sensitive groups may experience health effects. Active children and adults, and people with a respiratory disease such as Asthma, should limit prolonged outdoor exertion, said the weather service.
Why are ozone levels in Nashville increasing?
According to the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation, ozone values are increasing due to dry and sunny weather, with little wind and low humidity. The Middle Tennessee region is in for a brutally hot week, said the weather service on Monday. Many locations west of the Cumberland Plateau will have medium to high chances of hitting the 100 mark.
"These weather conditions allow pollutants to build up in our atmosphere and react with sunlight, leading to the creation of ground-level ozone," said a social media post.
The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation is issuing an Ozone Code Orange Air Quality Alert for the...
Posted by Tennessee Air Quality Forecast Program on Sunday, August 25, 2024
What is ground level ozone? Why is it harmful?
Ozone is a colorless gas, composed of three atoms of oxygen. It can be found both in the Earth's upper atmosphere and at ground level. It can be good or bad for health, depending on its location, according to the United States Environmental Protection Agency .
"Good" ozone is called stratospheric ozone, which occurs naturally in the upper atmosphere, where it forms a protective layer that shields the earth from the sun's harmful ultraviolet rays.
However ozone at the ground level, also known as smog, is considered "bad ozone," due to its harmful health effects on people and the environment. Depending on level of exposure, ozone can cause:
- coughing
- difficutly breathing
- inflamed or damaged airways
- lung infection
- aggravate lung dieases like asthma, emphysema, and chronic bronchitis
- Increase the frequency of asthma attacks.
Who is most at risk during an Air Quality Alert?
During a Code Orange Air Quality Alert, when Air Quality Index levels are between 101-150, members of sensitive groups are recommended to make outdoor activities shorter and less intense, take more breaks, and watch for symptoms such as coughing or shortness of breath. It is also recommended to limit outdoor activities to the morning hours, when ozone is lower.
According to airnow.gov , sensitive groups include people with lung disease such as asthma, older adults, children and teenagers, and people who are active outdoors.
What are Air Quality Alerts?
Air Quality Alerts are used to inform the public about pollution levels in the air, and to advise vulnerable groups to take precautions. The Air Quality Index was created by the EPA to monitor and report on air quality.
There are five major air pollutants. They include:
- ground-level ozone
- particle pollution
- carbon monoxide
- sulfur dioxide
- nitrogen dioxide
How does the Air Quality Index work?
The values of the Air Quality Index run from 0 to 500. The higher the value, the higher the level of air pollution and higher the health concern.
When values at or below 100, they are generally thought of as satisfactory. However when when values reach 100 or above, air quality is unhealthy and poses a risk for sensitive groups of people. As values increase, as do the health risks for everyone.
The Air Quality Index is divided into six categories: good (labeled green), moderate (labeled yellow), unhealthy for sensitive groups (labeled orange), unhealthy (labeled red), very unhealthy (labeled purple), and hazardous (labeled maroon). Each category corresponds to a different level of health concern.
Diana Leyva covers trending news and service journalism for The Tennessean. Contact her at Dleyva@gannett.com or follow her on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, at @_leyvadiana
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: What does a Nashville Air Quality Alert mean? Nashville area under a code orange Monday
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