LOVELAND MAGAZINE

News and Events from the Loveland, Ohio Area

Without fear or favor
Since 2004

Tag: Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups

  • Air Quality Alert extended into Thursday

    Air Quality Alert extended into Thursday

    Loveland, Ohio – The Southwest Ohio Air Quality Agency, a division of Hamilton County Department of Environmental Services, has issued and extended an Air Quality Alert for Butler, Clermont, Hamilton and Warren counties in Ohio and Boone, Campbell and Kenton counties in Kentucky.

    The Agency expects to see levels of ozone in the “unhealthy for sensitive groups” range on the Air Quality Index (AQI).

    The air quality in Loveland was measured at 143 at 5 PM on Tuesday.

    Do Your Share for Clean Air

    Transportation
    • Bike or walk to nearby destinations.
    • Ride the bus (Metro Phone: 513-621-4455).
    • Join a carpool through Rideshare. Call 800-241-RIDE for free information on how to start a carpool.
    • Combine your errands into one trip-a cold engine decreases efficiency by as much as 80%.
    • Keep your air filter clean and get regular tune-ups-a neglected car can reduce gas mileage by 20%.
    • Make sure your tires are properly inflated and rotated-you can save $130 a year in gasoline costs.
    • Don’t “top off” your gas tank-by stopping at the click, you will reduce fumes that contribute to ground-level ozone pollution.
    • Refuel after 8 pm, especially in the summer when ozone concentrations tend to be higher during the afternoon.
    • Avoid idling in general, turning off and starting an engine uses less gasoline than letting it idle for more than 30 seconds. For example, turn the car off while waiting in line at railroad crossings and drive-through windows.
    • Make sure your car’s air conditioner is working properly-leaky air conditioners in cars are the single greatest source of chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), a greenhouse gas.
    • Stay on paved roads whenever possible-driving on dirt roads raises dust which contributes to haze and airborne particulate matter.
    Energy Use
    • Conserve electricity-electrical generation is a source of air pollution.
    • Turn the lights out when you leave the room.
    • Use cold water instead of hot whenever possible-you’ll use less energy
    • Use fans to help cool-they use less energy than coolers and air conditioners.
    • Clean the condenser coils on your refrigerator every few months-you can reduce electricity consumption by 6% or more.
    • Insulate your home to use less energy.
    • Go solar or geothermal for home and water heating-it reduces the need to burn fossil fuel.
    • Caulk and weather strip doors and windows.
    • Change your HVAC filter regularly so your equipment runs more efficiently.
    • Replace lightbulbs with LEDs.
    • Only do laundry when there is a full load.
    • Unplug appliances when not in use, especially equipment that has “stand by” modes such as flat screen television, DVD/Blu-Ray players, and video game equipment.
    • Avoid leaving cell phone and tablet chargers plugged in the wall when not charging equipment.
    • Use a programmable thermostat to conserve heat/air conditioning when not at home.
    • When appliances need to be replaced, look for EnergyStar certified products.
  • Air Quality Alert has been extended into Saturday

    Air Quality Alert has been extended into Saturday

    Loveland, Ohio – The Southwest Ohio Air Quality Agency expects to see levels of ozone in the “unhealthy for sensitive groups” range on the Air Quality Index (AQI). 

    Saturday, Aug 5 Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups Ozone

     

    This level of Ozone can be harmful to children, seniors, adults who are active outdoors (such as manual laborers), and people with heart disease, lung disease (such as asthma, emphysema, and bronchitis), or diabetes.

    On Air Quality Alert days, everyone can help reduce ozone formation by taking the following actions:

    • Take the bus, carpool, bike, or walk instead of drive.
    • Refuel your vehicle after 8 p.m.; do not top off when refueling and tighten the gas cap.
    • Do not idle your vehicle; exhaust contributes considerably to ozone formation.
    • Combine trips or eliminating unnecessary vehicle trips.
    • Keep your vehicle maintained with properly inflated tires and timely oil changes.
    • Avoid use of gasoline-powered lawn equipment on Air Quality Alert days.
    • Avoid use of oil-based paints and stains on Air Quality Alert days.
    • Never burn leaves or other yard trimmings.
    • Suspend use of fire pits, campfires and charcoal grills on Air Quality Alert days.
    • Conserve electricity by turning out lights and unplugging unused appliances and electronics.
  • Air Quality Alert has been declared for Loveland on Friday

    Air Quality Alert has been declared for Loveland on Friday

    Loveland, Ohio – The Southwest Ohio Air Quality Agency expects to see levels of ozone in the “unhealthy for sensitive groups” range on the Air Quality Index (AQI). 

    Friday, Aug 4: 108 AQI Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups Ozone

     

    This level of Ozone can be harmful to children, seniors, adults who are active outdoors (such as manual laborers), and people with heart disease, lung disease (such as asthma, emphysema, and bronchitis), or diabetes.

    On Air Quality Alert days, everyone can help reduce ozone formation by taking the following actions:

    • Take the bus, carpool, bike, or walk instead of drive.
    • Refuel your vehicle after 8 p.m.; do not top off when refueling and tighten the gas cap.
    • Do not idle your vehicle; exhaust contributes considerably to ozone formation.
    • Combine trips or eliminating unnecessary vehicle trips.
    • Keep your vehicle maintained with properly inflated tires and timely oil changes.
    • Avoid use of gasoline-powered lawn equipment on Air Quality Alert days.
    • Avoid use of oil-based paints and stains on Air Quality Alert days.
    • Never burn leaves or other yard trimmings.
    • Suspend use of fire pits, campfires and charcoal grills on Air Quality Alert days.
    • Conserve electricity by turning out lights and unplugging unused appliances and electronics.
  • “Unhealthy” air quality alert extended into Friday

    “Unhealthy” air quality alert extended into Friday

    Loveland, Ohio – The Southwest Ohio Air Quality Agency is extending the Air Quality Alert for FRIDAY, JULY 28 through 11:59 PM for Butler, Clermont, Hamilton, and Warren counties in Ohio; Boone, Campbell, and Kenton counties in Kentucky; and Dearborn County in Indiana.

    The Agency expects to see levels of ozone in the “Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups” range on the Air Quality Index (AQI).

    Because there are two air pollutants with high concentrations, the general public is encouraged to limit their outdoor exertion, especially children, those with respiratory illnesses, and older adults. Refer to U.S. EPA’s health guide here.

    Code Orange days mean that pollution levels will be hazardous for children, the elderly, and those with pre-existing health conditions.

    Everyone can help reduce ozone formation by taking the following actions: 

    • Telecommute if your employer permits.
    • Do not idle your vehicle; exhaust contributes considerably to ozone formation.
    • Combine trips or eliminating unnecessary vehicle trips.

    What to Do During an Air Quality Alert

    • Take the bus, carpool, bike or walk instead of driving
    • Refuel your vehicle after 6 p.m., do not top off when refueling and tighten the gas cap
    • Do not idle your vehicle
    • Combine trips or eliminate unnecessary vehicle trips
    • Keep your vehicle maintained with properly-inflated tires and timely oil changes
    • Avoid use of gasoline-powered lawn equipment on Air Quality Alert days
    • Avoid use of oil-based paints and stains on Air Quality Alert days
    • Never burn leaves or other yard trimmings
    • Always burn clean, seasoned wood in outdoor fire pits, fireplaces and wood stoves
    • Avoid using fire pits or fireplaces for non-essential home heating on Air Quality Alert days
    • Conserve electricity

    For more details on the Air Quality Index and its corresponding health messages, refer to AirNow. You may also choose to sign up for EnviroFlash, a free service and app that notifies you of daily air quality conditions based upon your personal settings that you control.

  • Air Quality Alert for today in Loveland

    Air Quality Alert for today in Loveland

    Loveland, Ohio – The Southwest Ohio Air Quality Agency (Agency) has issued an Air Quality Alert for Sunday, June, 5, 2022 for Loveland, Butler, Clermont, Hamilton and Warren counties in Ohio; Boone, Campbell, and Kenton counties in Kentucky; and Dearborn County in Indiana.

    The Air Quality Index is predicted to reach 105.

    The Agency expects to see levels of ozone in the “unhealthy for sensitive groups” range on the Air Quality Index.

    Active children and adults, and people with respiratory diseases, such as asthma, should be avoiding all outdoor exertion; everyone else, especially children, should limit outdoor exertion.

    Activities for children, who can be especially harmed by high levels of ozone because of their developing lungs and that some activities such as sports result in them breathing in quite a large amount of the chemical irritants should be suspended.

    To keep informed about Loveland’s hour-by-hour air quality you can always look for this image on our Home Page or use this LINK.

    On Air Quality Alert days, everyone can help reduce ozone formation by taking the following actions:

    • Take the bus, carpool, bike, or walk instead of drive.

    • Refuel your vehicle after 8 p.m.; do not top off when refueling and tighten the gas cap.

    • Do not idle your vehicle; exhaust contributes considerably to ozone formation.

    • Combine trips or eliminating unnecessary vehicle trips.

    • Keep your vehicle maintained with properly inflated tires and timely oil changes.

    • Avoid use of gasoline-powered lawn equipment on Air Quality Alert days.

    • Avoid use of oil-based paints and stains on Air Quality Alert days.

    • Never burn leaves or other yard trimmings.

    • Suspend use of fire pits, campfires and charcoal grills on Air Quality Alert days.

    • Conserve electricity by turning out lights and unplugging unused appliances and electronics.

  • Air Quality Alert for Tuesday in Loveland

    Air Quality Alert for Tuesday in Loveland

    Loveland, Ohio – The Southwest Ohio Air Quality Agency has issued an Air Quality Alert for Tuesday, August 24 for the Loveland, Ohio Area.

    The Air Quality Index is predicted to reach 105.

    The Agency expects to see levels of ozone in the “unhealthy for sensitive groups” range on the Air Quality Index.

    Active children and adults, and people with respiratory diseases, such as asthma, should be avoiding all outdoor exertion; everyone else, especially children, should limit outdoor exertion.

    Activities for children, who can be especially harmed by high levels of ozone because of their developing lungs and that some activities such as sports result in them breathing in quite a large amount of the chemical irritants should be suspended.

    To keep informed about Loveland’s hour-by-hour air quality you can always look for this image on our Home Page or use this LINK.

    On Air Quality Alert days, everyone can help reduce ozone formation by taking the following actions:

    • Take the bus, carpool, bike, or walk instead of drive.

    • Refuel your vehicle after 8 p.m.; do not top off when refueling and tighten the gas cap.

    • Do not idle your vehicle; exhaust contributes considerably to ozone formation.

    • Combine trips or eliminating unnecessary vehicle trips.

    • Keep your vehicle maintained with properly inflated tires and timely oil changes.

    • Avoid use of gasoline-powered lawn equipment on Air Quality Alert days.

    • Avoid use of oil-based paints and stains on Air Quality Alert days.

    • Never burn leaves or other yard trimmings.

    • Suspend use of fire pits, campfires and charcoal grills on Air Quality Alert days.

    • Conserve electricity by turning out lights and unplugging unused appliances and electronics.

  • Dangerous Ozone level continues into Wednesday

    Dangerous Ozone level continues into Wednesday

    Loveland, Ohio – The Southwest Ohio Air Quality Agency has issued an Air Quality Alert for Wednesday, July 28 for the Loveland, Ohio Area.

    The Agency expects to see levels of ozone in the “unhealthy for sensitive groups” range on the Air Quality Index.

    Active children and adults, and people with respiratory diseases, such as asthma, should be avoiding all outdoor exertion; everyone else, especially children, should limit outdoor exertion.

    Activities for children, who can be especially harmed by high levels of ozone because of their developing lungs and that some activities such as sports result in them breathing in quite a large amount of the chemical irritants should be suspended.

    To keep informed about Loveland’s hour-by-hour air quality you can always look for this image on our Home Page or use this LINK.

    On Air Quality Alert days, everyone can help reduce ozone formation by taking the following actions:

    • Take the bus, carpool, bike, or walk instead of drive.

    • Refuel your vehicle after 8 p.m.; do not top off when refueling and tighten the gas cap.

    • Do not idle your vehicle; exhaust contributes considerably to ozone formation.

    • Combine trips or eliminating unnecessary vehicle trips.

    • Keep your vehicle maintained with properly inflated tires and timely oil changes.

    • Avoid use of gasoline-powered lawn equipment on Air Quality Alert days.

    • Avoid use of oil-based paints and stains on Air Quality Alert days.

    • Never burn leaves or other yard trimmings.

    • Suspend use of fire pits, campfires and charcoal grills on Air Quality Alert days.

    • Conserve electricity by turning out lights and unplugging unused appliances and electronics.

  • Air quality alert issued for Sunday because of smoke and dust plum from Africa’s Saharan desert

    Air quality alert issued for Sunday because of smoke and dust plum from Africa’s Saharan desert

    Active children and adults, people with heart and lung disease, including asthma, and older adults should reduce prolonged or heavy outdoor exertion. on Sunday. Some particles less than 10 micrometers in diameter can get deep into your lungs and some may even get into your bloodstream.

    Air Quality Forecast for 06/28/20

    Loveland, Ohio – Based on forecasted weather conditions and the impacts of the Saharan dust plume, the Southwest Ohio Air Quality Agency has issued an Air Quality Alert for Sunday, June 28.

    The Agency expects levels of particulate matter in the “Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups” range.

    CBS news reports: What’s been called the most significant dust cloud in 50 years has now shrouded the U.S. Gulf Coast in a thick, dusty haze. The dust layer, which originated in the Sahara desert and drifted across the Atlantic, is forecast to continue moving north and east through the weekend, impacting areas from Texas and Florida all the way up to as far north as the Canadian border.

     

    Both COVID 19 and the particulate matter from the Sahara attack the respiratory system. Those persons already considered part of the “vulnerable” population during the pandemic are most at risk, as well as infants and toddlers with developing lungs.

    You can help protect those most vulnerable

    You can help the situation locally by not using fire pits, lighting campfires, charcoal grills, or setting off fireworks.

    If you conserve electricity by turning out lights and unplugging unused appliances and electronics tomorrow it will reduce the demand for coal-burning power plants in our region.

    If you must drive a vehicle and have a choice, consider an electric, hybrid, or gasoline-powered – over diesel. Diesel fuel is notorious for emitting dirty particulate emissions.

    Use the vehicle that gets the best mileage and do not idle your vehicle.

    Combine trips or eliminate unnecessary vehicle trips.

    You can check the current air quality by clicking on this image and entering a ZIP Code.

    What is PM, and how does it get into the air?Size comparisons for PM particlesSize comparisons for PM particles

    PM stands for particulate matter (also called particle pollution): the term for a mixture of solid particles and liquid droplets found in the air. Some particles, such as dust, dirt, soot, or smoke, are large or dark enough to be seen with the naked eye. Others are so small they can only be detected using an electron microscope.

    Particle pollution includes:

    • PM10 : inhalable particles, with diameters that are generally 10 micrometers and smaller; and
    • PM2.5 : fine inhalable particles, with diameters that are generally 2.5 micrometers and smaller.
      • How small is 2.5 micrometers? Think about a single hair from your head. The average human hair is about 70 micrometers in diameter – making it 30 times larger than the largest fine particle.

    Sources of PM

    These particles come in many sizes and shapes and can be made up of hundreds of different chemicals.

    Some are emitted directly from a source, such as construction sites, unpaved roads, fields, smokestacks or fires.

    Most particles form in the atmosphere as a result of complex reactions of chemicals such as sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides, which are pollutants emitted from power plants, industries and automobiles.

    What are the Harmful Effects of PM?

    Particulate matter contains microscopic solids or liquid droplets that are so small that they can be inhaled and cause serious health problems. Some particles less than 10 micrometers in diameter can get deep into your lungs and some may even get into your bloodstream. Of these, particles less than 2.5 micrometers in diameter, also known as fine particles or PM2.5, pose the greatest risk to health.

    Fine particles are also the main cause of reduced visibility (haze) in parts of the United States, including many of our treasured national parks and wilderness areas.

    Learn more about health and environmental effects

    If you find that having this type of local news adds value to your quality of life, kindly consider contributing to the cost of producing it.

  • Air Quality Alert issued for Saturday and Sunday

    Air Quality Alert issued for Saturday and Sunday

    Air Quality Index (AQI)
    105 on Saturday and 110 on Sunday
    		Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups
    Health Message: Active children and adults, and people with lung disease, such as asthma, should reduce prolonged or heavy exertion outdoors.
    Actionday icon ACTION DAY

     

    Loveland, Ohio – The Southwest Ohio Air Quality Agency (Agency) has issued an Air Quality Advisory for Saturday and Sunday, August 3 and 4th, for Loveland, Butler, Clermont, Hamilton and Warren counties in Ohio; Boone, Campbell, and Kenton counties in Kentucky; and Dearborn County in Indiana. The Agency expects to see levels of ozone in the “unhealthy for sensitive groups” range on the Air Quality Index (AQI).

    On Air Quality Advisory days, everyone can help reduce ozone formation by taking the following actions:

    • Take the bus, carpool, bike, or walk instead of drive.
    • Refuel your vehicle after 8 p.m.; do not top off when refueling and tighten the gas cap.
    • Do not idle your vehicle; exhaust contributes considerably to ozone formation.
    • Combine trips or eliminating unnecessary vehicle trips.
    • Keep your vehicle maintained with properly inflated tires and timely oil changes.
    • Avoid use of gasoline-powered lawn equipment on Air Quality Advisory days.
    • Avoid use of oil-based paints and stains on Air Quality Advisory days.
    • Never burn leaves or other yard trimmings.
    • Suspend use of fire pits, campfires and charcoal grills on Air Quality Advisory days.
    • Conserve electricity by turning out lights and unplugging unused appliances and electronics.

    To learn more, visit:

    Website              SouthwestOhioAir.org
    Facebook            facebook.com/SouthwestOhioAir

    Twitter                twitter.com/swohioair

    Enviroflash       enviroflash.info/signup.cfm

  • Air Quality Alert continues into Sunday

    Air Quality Alert continues into Sunday

    Air Quality Index (AQI)
    120
    		Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups
    Health Message: Active children and adults, and people with lung disease, such as asthma, should reduce prolonged or heavy exertion outdoors.
    Actionday icon ACTION DAY

     

    Loveland, Ohio – The Southwest Ohio Air Quality Agency (Agency) has issued an Air Quality Advisory for Sunday, July 14 for Loveland, Butler, Clermont, Hamilton and Warren counties in Ohio; Boone, Campbell, and Kenton counties in Kentucky; and Dearborn County in Indiana. The Agency expects to see levels of ozone in the “unhealthy for sensitive groups” range on the Air Quality Index (AQI).

    On Air Quality Advisory days, everyone can help reduce ozone formation by taking the following actions:

    • Take the bus, carpool, bike, or walk instead of drive.
    • Refuel your vehicle after 8 p.m.; do not top off when refueling and tighten the gas cap.
    • Do not idle your vehicle; exhaust contributes considerably to ozone formation.
    • Combine trips or eliminating unnecessary vehicle trips.
    • Keep your vehicle maintained with properly inflated tires and timely oil changes.
    • Avoid use of gasoline-powered lawn equipment on Air Quality Advisory days.
    • Avoid use of oil-based paints and stains on Air Quality Advisory days.
    • Never burn leaves or other yard trimmings.
    • Suspend use of fire pits, campfires and charcoal grills on Air Quality Advisory days.
    • Conserve electricity by turning out lights and unplugging unused appliances and electronics.

    To learn more, visit:

    Website              SouthwestOhioAir.org
    Facebook            facebook.com/SouthwestOhioAir

    Twitter                twitter.com/swohioair

    Enviroflash       enviroflash.info/signup.cfm