By Anna Skinner
Copyright newsweek
Thousands of children faced recommendations to limit time outdoors in Atlanta during a code orange air quality alert scheduled to go into effect on Friday.Newsweek reached out to the Georgia Department of Natural Resources Environmental Protection Division, which issued the alert, by email for comment.Why It MattersNumerous events can worsen air quality, including high temperatures and wildfire smoke. For Friday, Georgia’s Ambient Air Monitoring Program predicted that ozone would worsen the air quality to the point where it would be considered unhealthy for sensitive groups.What To KnowThe Air Quality Index (AQI) is expected to reach levels that are unhealthy for sensitive groups, or the orange level, in Atlanta and surrounding areas on Friday, according to an air quality alert relayed by the National Weather Service (NWS) office in Peachtree City.AQI is considered unhealthy for sensitive groups when levels measure between 101 and 150. AirNow, an air quality program from the EPA, urges children to limit time outdoors once AQI levels hit 101.”Children, people who are sensitive to ozone, and people with heart or lung disease should limit prolonged outdoor exertion during the late afternoon or early evening when ozone concentrations are highest,” the NWS alert said.At times, ozone can cause health concerns, particularly in sensitive groups such as children, those with respiratory diseases, or the elderly. Ozone can cause coughing, make it difficult to breathe, inflame and damage airways, make the lungs more susceptible to infection, increase the frequency of asthma attacks, and aggravate lung diseases such as emphysema and chronic bronchitis.Ozone occurs when “pollutants emitted by cars, power plants, industrial boilers, refineries, chemical plants, and other sources chemically react in the presence of sunlight,” a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) webpage about ozone said.Some air quality alerts suggest people avoid contributing to ozone levels by avoiding drive-thru lanes and commuting to work.”Ozone is most likely to reach unhealthy levels on hot sunny days in urban environments, but can still reach high levels during colder months,” the webpage said. “Ozone can also be transported long distances by wind, so even rural areas can experience high ozone levels.”What People Are SayingThe EPA in a webpage about ozone: “Ozone in the air we breathe can harm our health, especially on hot sunny days when ozone can reach unhealthy levels. People at greatest risk of harm from breathing air containing ozone include people with asthma.”Georgia’s Ambient Air Monitoring Program said of the air quality forecast for Friday: “Active children and adults, and people with respiratory disease, such as asthma, should reduce prolonged or heavy outdoor exertion.”AirNow in a webpage about AQI level orange: “Members of sensitive groups may experience health effects. The general public is less likely to be affected.”What Happens NextAs of Thursday night, the alert is in place for Friday. People were urged to follow local air quality guidance and limit their time outdoors during peak times of peak ozone concentration.
