The Indiana Department of Environmental Management has issued an Air Quality Action Day and is forecasting high ozone levels for today in three regions.

That includes Jackson County and Clark, Floyd, Harrison, Jackson, Jefferson, Scott and Washington counties in southeast Indiana.

Also, Marion, Bartholomew, Boone, Brown, Delaware, Hamilton, Hancock, Hendricks, Johnson, Madison, Monroe, Morgan and Shelby counties in central Indiana and Daviess, Dubois, Gibson, Greene, Knox, Perry, Pike, Posey, Spencer, Vanderburgh and Warrick counties in southwest Indiana.

IDEM encourages everyone to help reduce ozone while remaining safe during the pandemic by making changes to daily habits. You can:

• Walk, bike or work from home when possible
• Avoid refueling your vehicle or using gasoline-powered lawn equipment until after 7 p.m.
• Conserve energy by turning off lights or setting the air conditioner to 75 degrees or above

Air Quality Action Days are in effect from midnight to 11:59 p.m. on the specified date. Anyone sensitive to changes in air quality may be affected when ozone levels are high. Children, the elderly and anyone with heart or lung conditions should reduce or avoid exertion and heavy work outdoors.

IDEM examines weather patterns and current ozone readings to make daily air quality forecasts. To learn more about ozone or sign up for air quality forecasts, visit smogwatch.in.gov.

Ground-level ozone is formed when sunlight and hot weather combine with vehicle exhaust, factory emissions and gasoline vapors. Ozone in the upper atmosphere blocks ultraviolet radiation, but ozone near the ground is a lung irritant that can cause coughing and breathing difficulties.