Ozone Major Issue For Louisiana Cities

May is Air Quality Awareness Month and the Department of Environmental Quality says many parts of the state are close to being out of compliance with EPA air quality standards.

Michael Vince with the Department of Environmental Quality says ozone is the major pollutant in Louisiana, especially in urban areas like Shreveport, Lake Charles, and Baton Rouge.

Vince says ozone can affect many people, "Typically that's going to be the elderly, people with COPD, emphysema or asthma and children."

Ozone is created by a chemical reaction when volatile organic chemicals, which are typically from paint fumes and products like it, and nitrogen oxides from burning fossil fuels combine from because of the sun's energy.

VInce says to reduce ozone, he recommends people own more fuel efficient lawn maintenance tools, use them outside of 2-4 p.m., and to make errand runs more efficient.