AIR QUALITY ALERT—JUNE 28, 2023

AIR QUALITY ALERT

June 28, 2023

Air Quality in Cleveland Heights/NE Ohio Was

291—VERY UNHEALTHY

as of 9:00 am

Please Protect Your Health.

Children, active adults, seniors, and people with respiratory diseases, such as asthma, should avoid physical activities outdoors.

Everyone else

should avoid strenuous outdoor activities.

If the air quality in your home is poor, please go to a public, air-conditioned, indoor space such as a mall, restaurant, or library.

Notice of Closure and Suspension of Activities

Due to today's poor air quality, The City of Cleveland Heights has closed Cumberland Pool and suspended most outdoor work by City employees.

Because refuse and recycling drivers can stay in their cabs, refuse and recycling collection will continue, but all drivers have been instructed to wear their N-95 masks.

Lawn waste collection has been suspended for today. If your lawn and leaf bags were not collected today as scheduled, the Department of Public Works will do so over the next several days.

The City is NOT closing its parks, but we advise everyone to avoid strenuous outdoor activities. Sports leagues not run by the City but that use its facilities may determine for themselves whether activities scheduled for today should go forward.

Notice of a Moratorium on

Open Burning in the City of Cleveland Heights

In response to today's poor air quality, Acting Chief James Harry of the Cleveland Heights Fire Department has issued a moratorium on open burning in the city. Open burning, recreational fires, and the use of portable outdoor fireplaces are banned in Cleveland Heights until the moratorium is lifted.

AirNow.gov Map as of 9:00 am

Check Current Air Quality at AirNow.gov

View Cleveland Heights' Air Quality Sensors

Primary Pollutants

PM 2.5—Fine Particulate Matter and

PM 10—Coarse Particulate Matter

PM 10–Coarse Particulate Matter is visible to the eye and includes dust, pollen, and mold spores. PM 10 can irritate your lungs, make breathing difficult, and worsen cardiopulmonary issues.

PM 2.5—Fine Particulate Matter is too small to be seen and includes ash from fires, organic compounds, and metals. Because PM 2.5 is so small, it can get into your bloodstream when inhaled.

Please protect yourself and your family by:

Staying inside in an air-conditioned space
Waiting until dusk to mow your lawn
Fueling up vehicles at dusk (to avoid evaporation)
Postponing exercise until the evening and exercising away from busy roads
Not letting your vehicle idle
Following Cuyahoga County’s guidelines on avoiding open fires, including wood fires and wood-burning stoves
Carpooling
Grouping your errands into one car trip
Checking on family members and neighbors who may be especially vulnerable to poor air quality

Help reduce particulate matter in our air

Avoid mowing the lawn or use of gas-powered blowers and lawn equipment; and
Avoid idling cars and vehicles for a prolonged period of time; and
Limit trips made by cars; and
Carpool and meet remotely; and
Turn off lights and electronic equipment when not in use to reduce loads and air pollution from power plants; and
Avoid burning wood fires.

For more information about the City of Cleveland Heights’ Air Quality Awareness activities, including its creation of a new local air quality monitoring network (see Day 5 below), please visit:

Day 1, May 1, 2023—Wildfires and Air Quality
Day 2, May 2, 2023—Asthma and Your Health
Day 3, May 3, 2023—Air Quality and Transportation
Day 4, May 4, 2023—Air Quality and Climate
Day 5, May 5, 2023—Participatory Science