A scientific reason to hate this 90-degree unfit for humans weather: Ozone Action Day

Tomorrow is SE Michigan's first Ozone Action Day, when dangerous levels of ground level ozone (smog) create health risks, especially for children, the elderly, and people with lung ailments or compromised immune systems.

It sounds like a damn good reason to me to watch baseball on TV rather than mow my lawn (with my low-ozone battery mower!)

I assume SEMCOG meant to say Wednesday, July 7, not Saturday. You can sign up for your own e-mail alerts at the links below.


SEMCOG, the Southeast Michigan Council of Governments, announces that Saturday(sic), July 7, 2010, is the first Ozone Action day of the year. This is the 17th year of the voluntary program that helps keep Southeast Michigan's air clean.

Several days of hot, humid weather, high temperatures, little wind, and little chance of rain have contributed to the high concentrations of ground-level ozone expected tomorrow.

Here are some things Southeast Michigan residents can do to help keep the air clean on the region's first Ozone Action day of the season:

* Try not to refuel on Ozone Action days. If you need to refuel on an Ozone Action day, fill up in the evening when the weather is cooler and don't "top off" the tank.
* Reduce automobile use on Ozone Action days. Plan to carpool, use public transit, or walk.
* Relax on Ozone Action days. Choose the lawn chair over the lawn mower.

Additional information and tips are available online at www.semcog.org (look for Ozone Action under Hot Topics on the home page) or at 800-66-33-AIR. Residents can also request e-mail notification of Ozone Action days. E-mail ozoneaction@semcog.org and put "Notification" in the subject line.