What Are They?
The Association of Central Oklahoma Governments (ACOG) Ozone Alert notification system brings citizens, business, industry and government in the ACOG area (Canadian, Cleveland, Logan and Oklahoma counties) together to voluntarily reduce ozone-forming emissions on days vulnerable to high ozone levels.
Ozone pollution can be harmful to human health and those most at risk include people with asthma, children, older adults, and people who are outdoors, especially outdoor workers.
On Ozone Alert Days people at risk from ozone pollution are encouraged to take precautions – avoiding outdoor exertion and staying indoors.
Why Are They Important?
An Ozone Alert Day is a day forecasted to have higher than healthy levels of ozone. Between March and November, emissions called volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and nitrogen oxides (NOx) released from internal combustion engines chemically react in sunlight on hot, windless days and form ground-level ozone, a major component of smog. The Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality, working with the National Weather Forecast, predicts days when conditions may cause unhealthy levels of ozone in Central Oklahoma and declares it an Ozone Alert Day.
According to the EPA, “ground level ozone is created by chemical reactions between oxides of nitrogen (NOx) and volatile organic compounds (VOC). This happens when pollutants emitted by cars, power plants, industrial boilers, refineries, chemical plants, and other sources chemically react in the presence of sunlight.
Ozone is most likely to reach unhealthy levels on hot sunny days in urban environments, but can still reach high levels during colder months. Ozone can also be transported long distances by wind, so even rural areas can experience high ozone levels.”
If you care about clean air, text OZONE to 43172 to receive Ozone Alert Day texts* from ACOG.
If you would like to read about the potential cost of non-attainment to the Oklahoma City Metropolitan Area, click here.