COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — An Air Quality Alert persisting since Tuesday will now continue through Friday for four counties in central Ohio, with pollution levels that have consistently gotten worse.
UPDATE: Due to improved air quality conditions in many areas of the state, Ohio EPA has cancelled the statewide Air Quality Advisory.
The alert was first issued Tuesday, as the Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission tracked pollution levels at 112 on a 0-500 scale. The affected counties include Franklin, Fairfield, Licking and Delaware. The alert continued into Wednesday with some portions of central Ohio with an Air Quality Index (AQI) of above 200 in the morning, making air levels in the “Very Unhealthy” category for everyone.
MORPC has extended the air quality alert through Thursday, citing a forecasted Air Quality Index (AQI) of 158, which is considered in the category of “Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups.” Thursday morning, Columbus had a visibility of one mile and an AQI of 222.
View the latest Air Quality Index for Columbus, provided by AirNow and the Environmental Protection Agency, below:
MORPC deemed the 112 AQI rating on Tuesday afternoon as unhealthy for sensitive groups, which can include children, older adults, people who are active outdoors, and those with lung diseases. MORPC also predicted the conditions could get worse on Wednesday, reaching a rating of 164. Marked as generally “unhealthy,” the subsequent day’s rating is the first to reach that level in 20 years. The EPA’s AirData records showed Ohio’s air quality had not received that rating since August 2003.
Latest in recent Air Quality Alerts
Ohio has been no stranger to air quality alerts throughout the month. On June 7, smoke particles from wildfires from Canada resulted in “the first time in 13 years that the region experienced USG alert days for PM2.5,” according to MORPC. During the same time period, New York City recorded an AQI rating of 405, surpassing the level considered hazardous for anyone spending time outdoors.
Ways to stay safe
MORPC recommended while the Air Quality Alerts remained in effect, Ohioans should plan outdoor activities for the morning when pollution levels are lower, and shorten time outside as well. To reduce local contributions to the pollution, MORPC recommended Ohioans drive less by walking, biking or bussing and avoid using gas-powered lawn equipment.
Additional air quality readings from AirNow are available below: