Michigan City, Ogden Dunes and Gary have Indiana’s highest ground-level ozone levels in recent years, state data shows.
Between 2018 and 2020, both Michigan City (77) and Ogden Dunes (71) averaged ozone readings above 70 parts per billion, the EPA’s limit for healthy air. Gary’s readings were at 70 ppb. Ozone is the main ingredient in smog. Cars and trucks are usually the largest source.
Emissions testing has been in place for most vehicles since the 1990s. The region’s air quality has improved, even as EPA’s air standards grew stricter, with ozone limits last tightened in 2015. For example, Michigan City’s ozone levels have improved from 92 ppb in the early 2000s, when it also ranked near the top, IDEM records show.
Updated every five years, the EPA is taking public feedback while it reviews rules on ozone limits again this fall.
Persistent smog is concerning for communities dealing with COVID-19 and higher rates of respiratory illnesses like asthma, said La’Tonya Troutman, environmental climate justice chair for the LaPorte County NAACP.
“It’s not surprising,” she said. “We’re still kinda surrounded with all this pollution, which basically keeps us at dangerous levels for anything.”
Ground-level ozone can cause shortness of breath, coughing, wheezing, headaches, nausea and eye and throat irritation.
It can also cause breathing trouble for people who suffer from lung diseases like emphysema and asthma. Symptoms can be worse in children and the elderly.
Even as traffic dropped for a time due to COVID-19 restrictions this spring, cities including Chicago and Indianapolis did not see significant drops in smog.
Ozone is produced when pollutants from cars, trucks, buses, industrial smoke stacks, gas stations, paints, lawn mowers and cleaning solvents bake in the summer sun and react.
Generally, high ozone levels occur on days with high temperatures and low wind more often than on days with moderate temperatures.
When conditions are expected to result in high ozone levels, IDEM will issue an ozone day warning, asking residents to help, like drive less or use less energy.
Cities in the Calumet Region have had eight ozone Air Quality Action Days since June, the most in Indiana.
The EPA is holding public hearings on Ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standards from Aug. 31 to Sept. 1.
The Trump administration is not recommending any changes from 70 ppb, which could be a move to stall any tighter ozone standards until 2025, said Brian Urbaszewski, director of environmental health programs at Respiratory Health Association.
It’s usually wrapped up by early October, and since the process appears to be running late, it’s possible it could be challenged in court, he said.
Here’s what you can do to reduce ozone:
Carpool, use public transportation or walk.
Reduce how much you drive, especially during rush hour or on hot days.
Limit engine idling time to 30 seconds. Park your car and skip the drive-through.
Turn off appliances and lights when you’re not using them.
Set your household thermostat a few degrees higher. Turn off your air conditioner and open the windows.
Avoid using paint or cleaning solvents.
To avoid health effects of high ozone levels, don’t exercise outdoors on days with high ozone.
— Indiana Department of Environmental Management
Post-Tribune archives contributed.
More information on the EPA’s ozone hearings are available on its website.
