Millions Told To Avoid Driving In 9 States
Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content.
Millions of Americans across nine states were urged to avoid driving and limit outdoor activities on Wednesday as air quality alerts were issued due to potentially hazardous pollution levels.
Why It Matters
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) cautions that exposure to ozone may irritate the respiratory tract, cause airway inflammation, and aggravate existing conditions like asthma, emphysema and chronic bronchitis.
Vulnerable populations—such as older adults, children and individuals with lung diseases—are at greater risk.
What To Know
The National Weather Service (NWS), in collaboration with local agencies, issued advisories for parts of Colorado, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, New York, Massachusetts, Connecticut and Maine as of early Wednesday.
Areas affected by the alerts included western Colorado, the greater Chicago area in Illinois, northwest Indiana, southwest Michigan, central Ohio and northern Maine.
In the state of New York, the Bronx, Kings, Queens, Richmond, Westchester, Rockland, and New York counties were under alert, as well as Ulster, Dutchess, and Sullivan counties.
Massachusetts' Hampden and Hampshire counties were under alert, as were Fairfield and Litchfield counties in Connecticut.
Alerts for these areas warned that ground level ozone concentrations could reach unhealthy levels, particularly for sensitive groups, who were advised to limit outdoor exposure.
Residents were encouraged to reduce vehicle use, carpool, and avoid other activities that contribute to air pollution such as using gasoline-powered lawn equipment.
Air quality is usually communicated using the Air Quality Index (AQI). This measures air pollution on a scale from 0 to 301 and above.
0–50: Good. Air quality is satisfactory.
Good. Air quality is satisfactory. 51–100: Moderate. Air quality is acceptable, with potential concerns for sensitive individuals.
Moderate. Air quality is acceptable, with potential concerns for sensitive individuals. 101–150: Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups. Air quality may affect people with heart or lung disease, older adults, children and pregnant individuals.
Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups. Air quality may affect people with heart or lung disease, older adults, children and pregnant individuals. 151–200: Unhealthy. Everyone may begin to experience health effects, and sensitive groups may see more serious effects.
Unhealthy. Everyone may begin to experience health effects, and sensitive groups may see more serious effects. 201–300: Very Unhealthy. The risk of health effects is increased for everyone.
Very Unhealthy. The risk of health effects is increased for everyone. 301 and above: Hazardous. The air quality requires a health warning of emergency conditions, and everyone is more likely to be affected.
What People Are Saying
AccuWeather meteorologist Brandon Buckingham told Newsweek previously: "Ozone is a secondary pollutant, meaning it's not emitted directly from sources, but is formed through chemical reactions. These reactions require sunlight and higher temperatures, making warmer months more prone to ozone formation. When air is stagnant, pollutants don't get dispersed, allowing ozone to build up to unhealthy levels."
What Happens Next
At the time of writing, the latest air quality alert was set to remain in effect until midnight Wednesday night.
The NWS issues regular forecast updates on its website.
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