Not A Good Day To Amble Around Cedarburg, Ozaukee County Sites

Hazardous levels of ozone. You can't see it, but it's there, says the DNR:

Air Quality Advisory for Ozone (Orange)Issued: 12:56 pm Sunday, August 16, 2009

The Wisconsin DNR has issued an Air Quality Advisory for Ozone (Orange) effective 12:01 pm Sunday, August 16, 2009 through 9:00 pm Sunday, August 16, 2009 for Ozaukee County.

The advisory is being issued because of persistent elevated levels of ground level ozone. Ground level ozone is formed when pollution from power plants, factories and other industrial sources, vehicle exhaust, and volatile organic compounds chemically reacts with hot temperatures, high humidity and atmospheric stagnation.

The Air Quality Index is currently in or expected to soon be in the orange level, which is considered unhealthy for people in sensitive groups and others, including people who are not in sensitive groups but who are engaged in strenuous outside activities or exposed for prolonged periods of time. People in those sensitive groups include those with respiratory diseases, such as asthma, older adults, and active adults and children. When an orange advisory for ozone is issued, people in those groups are advised to reschedule or cut back on strenuous outside activities.

People with lung diseases such as asthma and bronchitis should pay attention to shortness of breath or respiratory symptoms like coughing, wheezing and discomfort when taking a breath, and consult with their physician if they have concerns or are experiencing symptoms. Ground level ozone can irritate the respiratory system, reduce lung function, aggravate asthma and chronic lung diseases, and, over time, cause permanent lung damage.