The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy has declared an Air Quality Advisory for Tuesday, July 15th for elevated levels of ozone in portions of southeast Michigan. Pollutants within those areas are expected to be in the Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups (Orange AQI) range. The Advisory is in effect for the following Michigan counties. St. Clair. Livingston. Oakland. Macomb. Washtenaw. Wayne and Monroe. The Air Quality Alert remains in effect through Midnight tonight, July 14th, for elevated levels of fine particulate (PM2.5) due to wildfire smoke from Canada. Pollutants across the state are expected to reach the Unhealthy (Red AQI) to USG (Orange AQI) range in northern locations, with ranges of USG to Moderate further south. The Air Quality Alert today is statewide. It is recommended that, when possible, you avoid strenuous outdoor activities, especially those with heart disease and respiratory diseases such as asthma. Recommendations to reduce pollution and potential health effects: PM2.5: Reduce or eliminate outdoor burning, and the use of residential wood burning devices, Keep windows closed overnight to prevent smoke from getting indoors and, if possible, run central air conditioning with MERV-13 or higher rated filters. Ozone: Using gas-powered lawn equipment, driving less or delaying and/or combing errands, refueling vehicles or topping off when refueling. For further information, please see EPAs Air Now site for up-to-date air quality data: https://www.airnow.gov/ For further health information, please see MDHHS Wildfire Smoke and Your Health site: https://www.michigan.gov/mdhhs/safety-injury-prev/environmental-health/ your-health-and-wildfire-smoke
