NORTH LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – An Ozone Action Advisory has been declared for July 3, 2025, for central Arkansas. The Arkansas Department of Energy and Environment, Division of Environmental Quality (DEQ), recognizes that forecasted ambient air ozone concentrations in central Arkansas indicate outdoor activities may be unhealthy for active children and adults, and for individuals in sensitive groups. Health precautions include limiting prolonged outdoor exertion among active children and adults, and people with preexisting respiratory disease.

The meteorological conditions allowing for higher ozone concentrations in central Arkansas will remain in place into Friday, July 4. Individuals sensitive to ozone should monitor current conditions and adjust their plans accordingly. For updates to the daily ozone forecasts for Arkansas, go to adeq.state.ar.us. To see daily U.S. ozone levels maps, go to airnow.gov. 

In cooperation with the Arkansas Department of Health (ADH), DEQ has issued a “Code Orange” Air Quality Advisory for Ozone because of forecasted concentrations above the 8-hour National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS) of 70 parts per million.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Air Quality Index (AQI) provides standardized color codes for forecasting and reporting daily air quality. Green signifies good air quality; Yellow means moderate air quality; Orange represents unhealthy pollution levels for sensitive groups of people; and Red warns of unhealthy pollution levels for all.

An Ozone Action Day is declared when the AQI is forecasted to be Code Orange or higher. On an Ozone Action Day, young children, the elderly, and those with respiratory problems, such as asthma, emphysema, and bronchitis, are especially vulnerable to the effects of air pollution and should limit outdoor activities.

To help reduce ozone emissions, please follow these recommendations:

• Refuel cars and lawnmowers before 7:00 am or after 7:00 pm, avoid fuel spills, and do not “top off” tanks
• Carpool or use mass transit
• Combine errands instead of separate vehicle trips
• Do not drive unnecessarily, especially during peak commuting hours or during the hottest part of the day

To check the daily ozone forecasts for Arkansas, visit adeq.state.ar.us. To see daily U.S. ozone levels maps, visit airnow.gov.