Don't start the lawn mower: Friday is an ozone action day

Posted on Fri, Jul 1, 2011 : 5:55 a.m.

Don't start the lawn mower: Friday is an ozone action day

By Cindy Heflin

If you're looking for a good excuse not to mow the lawn, this is it. Friday has been declared an ozone action day in the Ann Arbor area.

Save this task for another day.

Weather conditions and pollutants are expected to create high ozone levels, and the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality wants citizens to avoid activities that contribute to them when possible. These include using gasoline-powered lawn equipment, refueling automobiles and using charcoal lighter fluid.

Residents are also urged to cut down on automobile usage by car-pooling and delaying errands if possible.

Those with asthma or other respiratory conditions should limit prolonged outdoor exertion.

The forecast calls for partly sunny skies in the afternoon with highs in the mid- to upper 80s.

For more information, visit the state’s air quality index page.

For updated weather conditions and forecasts throughout the day, visit AnnArbor.com's weather page.

Comments

walker101

Fri, Jul 1, 2011 : 4:53 p.m.

Excuse me.

walker101

Fri, Jul 1, 2011 : 2:20 p.m.

Now they want to control when you can or can't cut the grass, how about not passing gas for a day.

Terry

Fri, Jul 1, 2011 : 2:14 p.m.

Wow I'm surprised there aren't any "global warming" activists on here praising such pointless articles. Did anybody read the latest study that we are actually much closer to a global cooling than a global warming? I can't believe we aren't supposed to mow. I can't weed whip and edge without mowing, that would just looks silly not to mention the fire hazard it would cause when I light that massive heap of styrofoam in my fire pit. I know what you are thinking, styrofoam doesn't light all that easy. Don't worry I soaked it in used motor oil so I'm good. Hey I'm doing my part to assist with global warming, I would hate to think Al Gore is walking around with an unwarranted Nobel Prize.

stevek

Fri, Jul 1, 2011 : 1:10 p.m.

Looks like the perfect day to fill up both my cars, cut the lawn, and barbeque up a whole platter of spotted owl.

tdw

Fri, Jul 1, 2011 : 3:51 p.m.

stevek. Can I come over for the BBQ ? I'll bring the panda salad.

Wolf's Bane

Fri, Jul 1, 2011 : 12:49 p.m.

I will mow my lawn today because I was told not to by A2.com. So there.

tdw

Fri, Jul 1, 2011 : 1:02 p.m.

Rats....I meant" getting ready to " I wish we could edit our comments

tdw

Fri, Jul 1, 2011 : 1 p.m.

Chewie you beat me to the punch.I was just getting to give you the same reply that you gave me

A2comments

Fri, Jul 1, 2011 : 11 a.m.

Any studies ever done of the impact of these requests? I would bet that no one changes their behavior.

Wolf's Bane

Fri, Jul 1, 2011 : 12:50 p.m.

I will fire up my BBQ, my lawn mower, my car, and motorcycles and just let them idle all day.

kdadnick

Fri, Jul 1, 2011 : 11:43 a.m.

It would seem to me that if 100 people needed to mow their lawn this weekend, 50 would choose today and 50 would choose tomorrow. If we all choose to recognize "ozone action day" then all 100 people will need to mow tomorrow....making tomorrow far more of a risk. I'm not a scientist or a mathematician, but some things in life need to draw more on common sense than "scientific studies". Perhaps we should not mow at all this weekend...because the fireworks are likely to be very ozone-devastating.

tdw

Fri, Jul 1, 2011 : 10:09 a.m.

Great.Now I'm going to have to cut my grass even though it does'nt need it