The Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management has issued a statewide air quality alert for Thursday, June 11, forecasting ground-level ozone that will reach unhealthy levels for sensitive groups.
It is the third such alert the department has issued in under a week, as a stretch of warm summer weather continues to drive elevated ozone. Levels are expected to peak from the early afternoon into the evening, and fine particle pollution is also forecast to be elevated, reaching moderate levels.
At the unhealthy-for-sensitive-groups level, the air poses a risk to children, older adults and people with asthma or other lung conditions. The department said elevated ozone can cause throat irritation, coughing, chest pain and shortness of breath, increase the risk of respiratory infections, and worsen asthma and other lung conditions.
The department recommended that residents reduce prolonged or heavy outdoor exertion, take frequent breaks, choose less strenuous activities and watch for symptoms such as coughing or shortness of breath. People with asthma or lung conditions should follow their action plans and carry quick-relief medications. Because ozone levels are typically lowest in the morning, the department advised scheduling outdoor activities earlier in the day.
Air quality can change throughout the day, and real-time updates and forecasts are available through the AirNow app, at airnow.gov, and on the department’s air quality forecast page at dem.ri.gov/airquality.
