Thursday Is Third Ozone Action Day of the Year
May 5, 2021 - San Antonio
Hot, hot, hot. On Wednesday, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality issued the third Ozone Action Day of the year for the San Antonio area for Thursday, May 6, 2021. Photo: Jade Esteban Estrada.
By Jade Esteban Estrada, Staff Writer | San Antonio Sentinel
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW:
- Thursday is the third Ozone Action Day of the year
- On Ozone Action Days, young children, the elderly, and those with respiratory problems are especially vulnerable to the effects of air pollution and should limit outdoor activities
On Wednesday, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) issued the third Ozone Action Day of the year for the San Antonio area for Thursday, May 6, 2021.
According to a press release, atmospheric conditions are expected to be favorable for producing high levels of ozone air pollution in the San Antonio area on that day. So far, there have been three Air Quality Alert Days this year. On Ozone Action Days, young children, the elderly, and those with respiratory problems, such as asthma, emphysema, and bronchitis, are especially vulnerable to the effects of air pollution and should limit outdoor activities. If an individual has asthma or difficulty breathing, Metro Health advises them to stay indoors.
To help keep the air healthy, residents and businesses are encouraged to voluntarily practice certain pollution-reducing activities such as refueling cars and trucks after 6:00 p.m., avoid using the drive-thru at restaurants, turning vehicles off instead of idling, setting air conditioner thermostats to a higher temperature if possible, carpooling or using public transportation, and combining errands to reduce trips.
For more detailed information about ground-level ozone, visit Metro Health's website.
Jade Esteban Estrada is a staff writer for the San Antonio Sentinel, where he covers public health and other citywide issues. jade@sasentinel.com | Twitter: @getjaded