IDEM forecasts overnight Air Quality Action Day for parts of Indiana

Monday, October 21, 2024 at 4:18 PM

By Staff report

This notice is for a short-term, isolated event that may not exceed the 24-hour standard for PM2.5.

The Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) has forecast an Air Quality Action Day (AQAD) for the Central/East Central region of Indiana starting at 8 p.m. ET on Monday through 8 a.m. ET on Tuesday.

Levels of fine particles (PM_2.5) in the air are expected to be in the Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups range (Orange) in the following areas overnight:

Central/East Central Indiana, including the cities of: Bloomington, Brookville, Columbus, Frankfort, Indianapolis, Greensburg, Kokomo, Lebanon, Martinsville, Muncie, Richmond and all other cities within the area.

This notice is for a short-term, isolated event that may not exceed the 24-hour standard for PM_2.5.
IDEM is preliminarily forecasting elevated levels of PM_2.5 in the air overnight due to a very stable/stagnant air mass which, if combined with any low levels of transported smoke that, in addition to residents burning leaves or other debris, could increase the likelihood of a buildup of PM_2.5, particularly in urban areas.

PM_2.5 is composed of microscopic dust, soot, and liquid that settles deep into the lungs and cannot be easily exhaled. Those people at risk are particularly vulnerable after several days of high PM_2.5 exposure or shorter-term risks from exposure to pollutants from a large smoke release.

Additional information about how smoke from fires can affect your health is available on U.S. EPA’s website: epa.gov/pm-pollution/how-smoke-fires-can-affect-your-health.

To read IDEM’s fact sheet on recommended actions, learn more about PM_2.5 or sign up for air quality alerts, visit SmogWatch.IN.gov.