Smog Alert issued for Saturday - Cincinnati News, FOX19-WXIX TV

Smog Alert issued for Saturday

(FOX19) -

The Hamilton County Department of Environmental Services has issued a Smog Alert for Saturday, August 20 for Butler, Clermont, Hamilton and Warren counties in Ohio and Boone, Campbell and Kenton counties in Kentucky. 

HCDOES expects to see levels of ozone in the "unhealthy for sensitive groups" range on the Air Quality Index (AQI). 

Smog is a term used to describe air pollution that is a result of the interaction of sunlight with certain chemicals in the atmosphere. The two primary pollutants in smog are ground-level ozone (O3) and particulate matter (PM).

These pollutants come from a variety of sources, including:

  • Automobiles, trucks and buses
  • Large industry and combustion sources such as utilities
  • Small industry such as gasoline dispensing facilities and print shops
  • Consumer products such as paints and cleaners
  • Off-road engines such as aircraft, locomotives, construction equipment and lawn and garden equipment

Every resident in the affected area is asked to make a small change in his or her daily habits on Smog Alert days to reduce smog formation, such as:

  • Taking the bus (METRO: 513-621-4455 or TANK: 859-331-8265)
  • Carpooling or vanpooling (RideShare: 241-RIDE) 
  • Riding a bike or rollerblading instead of driving  
  • Avoiding use of gasoline powered lawn equipment 
  • Keeping your vehicle maintained 
  • Combining trips or eliminating unnecessary vehicle trips 
  • Refueling your vehicle after sunset 
  • Do not top off when refueling 
  • Avoiding use of oil-based paints and stains 
  • Saving electricity 
  • Spreading the word

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