March 1st officially marks the start of Ozone Season (March 1 - November 30), a time when air quality levels are the poorest for the region due to ozone pollution.
The months when the highest levels of ozone are most common are between May and June and between August and October. That said, "moderate" levels can start as early as February and as late as November.
Ground Level Ozone is an irritant that can negatively affect human health making it more difficult to breathe, increasing the frequency of asthma attacks, and inflaming or damaging the airways.
You can help to protect air quality by;
- limiting driving
- properly maintaining your vehicle,
- using the right size vehicle for your trip (ex. walk/bike, vs. sedan, vs. pick-up truck)
- using public transit instead of driving or ride-hailing
- conserving electricity and water
- refueling your vehicle in the evening
Protecting air quality becomes more critical when ozone levels are forecast to reach unhealthy levels, these days are called Ozone Action Day – meaning you should take action to reduce air pollution as well as take action to reduce exposure to ozone pollution.
You can also sign up for Ozone Action Day alerts from Air Central Texas at aircentraltexas.org
Together, we can protect our air in Travis County!
