“Metroplan acts as a voice of regionalism and has worked as the council of local governments and Metropolitan Planning Organization for central Arkansas since 1955.”

Ozone Action Days and Ditch the Keys

Ozone Action Days (OAD) is a public awareness program of Metroplan, in partnership with the Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality, Arkansas Department of Health, and the Arkansas Department of Transportation. The program is designed to keep you informed about potentially harmful ground-level ozone. Ground-level ozone is the bad type of ozone that is created when pollutants mix with sunlight. Breathing this type of ozone can cause a number of problems including chest pain, coughing, throat irritation, and congestion.

When ground-level ozone reaches moderate levels, an Ozone Action Day Alert will be issued. There are currently two basic types of Ozone Action Days:

  1. An Ozone Action Advisory will be declared when the Air Quality Index (AQI) forecast is code orange, indicating that prolonged outdoor exertion is unhealthy for sensitive groups.
  2. An Ozone Action Alert will be declared when the AQI forecast is code red, indicating that prolonged outdoor exertion is unhealthy for everyone.

The Ozone forecasting season is May 1st – September 30th, but you can check the Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality website for air quality information throughout the year. To be notified of any Ozone Action Day alert you can sign up for EnviroFlash from EPA’s AirNow.

Ditch the Keys is an awareness-building campaign, sponsored by OAD, that encourages Central Arkansans to protect air quality by using alternate modes of transportation to help reduce ground-level ozone.

Download the Bike Bingo card!

Download your Ozone Action Days coloring pages!

  

Biking  (en español)            Social Distancing (en español)

Working from Home  (en español)

 

For more information..

Allergy & Asthma Network – Information on how to control allergies and asthma.

Air Quality Guide for Ozone – The Air Quality Index (AQI) explained.
 
Air Quality Info For Kids – EPA webpage provides air quality information and links for children ages 5-10.
 
Rock Region Metro (RR) –  A participant in the OAD program, RRM provides public transportation services in Pulaski County.
 
It All Adds Up to Cleaner Air – Information for the public regarding the impact of their transportation choices on traffic congestion and air quality.