Residents of 34 SC counties cautioned about ozone conditions | Environment

COLUMBIA, S.C. – Conditions are likely Friday for increased ground-level ozone concentrations in South Carolina, according to the state Department of Health and Environmental Control .

DHEC is forecasting an Orange Ozone Action Day for the following counties:

• Abbeville, Aiken, Anderson, Barnwell, Berkeley, Calhoun, Charleston, Cherokee, Chester, Chesterfield, Darlington, Dillon, Dorchester, Edgefield, Fairfield, Florence, Greenville, Greenwood, Kershaw, Lancaster, Laurens, Lee, Lexington, Marlboro, McCormick, Newberry, Oconee, Pickens, Richland, Saluda, Spartanburg, Sumter, Union and York

"When ozone levels are elevated, active children and adults as well as people with respiratory diseases, such as asthma, should limit prolonged outdoor exertion," said Myra Reece, chief of DHEC's Bureau of Air Quality. "Ground-level ozone is formed when hot, dry, stagnant weather conditions exist. When that happens, emissions from vehicles contribute to the formation of ground-level ozone."

Reece said ways residents can help limit the formation of ground-level ozone include:

• Carpool
• Stay in at lunch
• Avoid excessive vehicle idling
• Use SMARTRIDE or other mass transit

DHEC's daily forecast for ground-level ozone can be found at: http://www.scdhec.gov/ozone, or by calling toll-free 1-866-238-4973. To receive the daily ozone forecast via e-mail, visit: http://www.enviroflash.info/.