The Oklahoma Department of Environmental Qualityis issuing an ozone alert for the Oklahoma City and Lawton metropolitan areas for Thursday, August 8, 2024. This alert will initiate the issuance of an “Ozone Alert Day” for the Oklahoma City area by the Association of Central Oklahoma Governments, and an “Air Quality Action Day” for the Lawton area by the Lawton Metropolitan Planning Organization.
This ozone alert is a prediction that concentrations of ozone will approach levels of concern over the next 24 hours. Sensitive individuals should plan accordingly. When these levels are reached, an Air Quality Health Advisory will be issued. Health Advisories are notifications that levels of ozone have reached unhealthy levels. They are based on near real time monitoring values.
Persons with lung or heart disease should be aware that increased pollution may cause them to experience adverse health effects. Ozone affects people differently. Unhealthy levels of ozone can cause throat irritation, coughing, chest pain, shortness of breath, increased susceptibility to respiratory infection and aggravation of asthma and other respiratory ailments. These symptoms are worsened by exercise and heavy activity. Learn your limits. Children, older adults and people with underlying lung diseases, such as asthma, are at particular risk of suffering from these effects. As ozone levels increase, the number of people affected and the severity of the health effects also increase.
