Air Quality Alert issued for Dayton and the Miami Valley

Air Quality Alert issued for the Dayton area - Wednesday, June 28

The Miami Valley Regional Planning Commission (MVRPC) has issued an Air Quality Alert for Wednesday, June 28, for Montgomery, Greene, Miami, Clark, Darke, and Preble Counties. 

The low air quality alert is due to the wildfire smoke from Canadian Wildfires, which has returned to the Miami Valley, resulting in high PM2.5 levels.

The Air Quality Index (AQI) forecast is 130 for Wednesday, June 28, 2023.

Any reading at 101 or higher is considered "unhealthy for sensitive groups". Older adults, children, and anyone with respiratory or cardiac diseases should reduce prolonged time outdoors or heavy exertion. People with asthma should follow their asthma action plans. The general public is not likely to be affected and for most people, it is OK to be active outside, but take more breaks and do less strenuous activities. 

MVRPC says people can reduce air pollution by taking the following action:

• AVOID DRIVING IF POSSIBLE. Vehicle emissions cause almost 50% of ground-level ozone. Carpool or take transit or for short trips, walk or ride a bike.
• REFUEL YOUR VEHICLE AFTER 8:00 P.M. or if possible, wait until after the Air Quality Alert expires. Vapors from gasoline contribute to the smog problem. By refueling after 8:00 p.m. when it’s cooler, smog doesn’t form as easily. Make sure your gas cap fits tightly so gas fumes don’t escape and contribute to the smog problem.
• LIMIT USE OF GASOLINE-POWERED EQUIPMENT, such as lawnmowers, chainsaws, power trimmers, and shredders. Operating a gasoline-powered lawnmower for one hour produces the same amount of pollution as driving a car! Try using non-motorized or battery-powered equipment instead.
• MOW YOUR LAWN IN THE EVENING when the sunlight is not as strong, and smog is less likely to form. 

For an interactive map of today's forecast in your area visit airnow.gov.

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