Air Quality Alert issued for northeast Ohio

CLEVELAND — The Northeast Ohio Areawide Coordinating Agency has issued an Air Quality Alert for a large portion of northeast Ohio on Tuesday due to the potential of ground level ozone to reach harmful levels. 

The alert is for Ashtabula, Cuyahoga, Geauga, Lake, Lorain, Medina, Portage and Summit counties. Air quality is expected to reach “unhealthy for sensitive groups” for the day, with highs approaching 90 in many areas. 

The main threat is the ozone gas, which is a lung irritant which can lead to severe respiratory issues. People who are the elderly, young children and teens, the immunocompromised and those with lung issues, such as asthma, are recommended to reduce their time outside during this time.

The American Lung Association recommended these practices to reduce the health effects of air pollution:

• Checking air quality forecasts
• Limiting exercise outdoors when pollution is high
• Using less energy at home, this helps reduce the amount of air pollution by curbing greenhouse gases
• Walk, bike or carpool to reduce car emissions 
• Use hand powered or electric lawn equipment rather than fuel powered

To check your air quality forecast, click here. For more information on health risks from air pollution, click here.