Air quality warning issued for parts of northwest Indiana – NBC Chicago

An air quality warning was issued for parts of northwest Indiana this week as elevated ozone levels are expected in the region on Wednesday.

According to the National Weather Service, the warning affects Lake, Porter, Newton and Jasper counties and goes into effect at midnight Wednesday and lasts until midnight Thursday.

People with lung diseases such as asthma, children and adolescents, older adults, and people who are relatively active for six hours or more per day are urged to reduce exposure by taking breaks when possible and choosing less strenuous activities.

According to the Air Quality Index, Chicago is expected to have moderate air quality over the next few days.

According to experts at Harvard University, higher temperatures accelerate ozone production, while weaker winds cause the atmosphere to stagnate and ozone levels to rise.

The US Environmental Protection Agency describes ozone as a “highly reactive gas” consisting of three oxygen atoms. It can occur naturally, but is also formed in reactions between volatile organic compounds and nitrogen oxides.

Ozone can then be perceived as smog or haze that can hang over cities and cause air quality problems.

According to the EPA, chemical plants, gas pumps and internal combustion engines can produce volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and contribute to increasing ozone levels, especially in hot weather.