IDEM to educate Wizards fans about ozone Monday

INDIANAPOLIS, IN - While fans hope to see the Fort Wayne Wizards knock balls out of the park during Monday night’s 7 p.m. game, the Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) is hoping to knockout ozone.

IDEM staff will be at the game to distribute items such as t-shirts, lip balms, pens, rulers, key chains along with an information sheet with tips for Hoosiers about ozone awareness. More information about the Ozone Knockout campaign can be found at http://www.ozoneknockout.in.gov.

Historically, Indiana measures higher ozone levels during the last two weeks of June than other times during the year. Through its statewide Ozone Knockout campaign, IDEM is urging Hoosier citizens and businesses to take action from June 16 to June 30 and reduce activities that contribute to the formation of ground-level ozone. Ozone forms when sunlight and hot weather bake vehicle exhaust, emissions and gasoline vapors.

“There are many simple ways to prevent ground-level ozone,” explained IDEM Commissioner Thomas Easterly. “Besides carpooling and using public transportation, we recommend filling up vehicle gas tanks and mowing the lawn after 7 p.m.”

Easterly also pointed out that buying electric powered lawn equipment is also helpful because using one gallon of gas in a lawn mower creates the same amount of emissions as driving a car 240 miles.

Air quality in Indiana has improved in recent years as a result of new regulations and voluntary efforts to reduce emissions. Through simple actions at home and at work, Hoosiers can continue to contribute to cleaner air.

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