The state Department of Environmental Quality has declared Tuesday an ozone action day because of a potential increase in ozone levels.
DEQ has called the action in five parishes in southern Louisiana – East and West Baton Rouge, Livingston, Ascension and Iberville, according to a news release issued Monday.
Sak Supatanafinkasem, a representative at DEQ, told The Daily Reveille on Monday that the department is issuing the action as a warning to residents of the effected parishes. He said the action is not an official “mandate” for residents to stay inside.
“It just means that we predict the ozone will be high,” Supatanafinkasem said. “We are just warning people and also asking people to carpool and things like that.”
Supatanafinkasem said the high ozone levels will not dramatically affect everyone.
“A kid that may have asthma or bronchitis should stay inside,” Supatanafinkasem said. “The majority of the people won’t be affected.”
Because of the potential high ozone levels, Supatanafinkasem said the department is asking residents to do anything “that can help reduce” ozone levels. He suggested carpooling and only driving when absolutely necessary.
Children should specifically avoid being outdoors for long periods of time on Tuesday. The elderly and people with respiratory diseases will also be affected more than others, according to the same news release.
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Contact Ben Bourgeois at [email protected]