The state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) is forecasting unhealthy air quality for “sensitive groups” from today through Saturday, May 28, due to predicted elevated ground-level ozone pollution.
The alert covers Southern Fairfield, Southern New Haven, Southern Middlesex and Southern New London counties – all prime beach destinations for Memorial Day weekend. These areas are expected to experience unhealthy air quality for “sensitive groups.”
According to DEEP, multi-day air quality alerts have been rare in recent years. In Oct. 2015, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) lowered the national air quality standard for ground level ozone from 75 parts per billion to 70 parts per billion. The more protective ozone standard may lead to an increase in the number of forecasted unhealthy air quality days in Connecticut this summer even though the air quality has steadily improved through the years.
Ground level or “bad” ozone primarily occurs during warm summer days. Strong sunshine causes chemical reactions of air pollutants emitted from motor vehicles, power plants and industry and household activities, forming ozone. Warmer weather can bring high levels of ground level ozone and fine particulate matter. These two air pollutants pose serious health risks – especially to young children, the elderly, adults who are active outdoors, and people with respiratory disease.
