The Indiana Department of Environmental Management predicts high levels of ozone for most of the state today (Thurs., May 23). This means children, seniors, and anyone with a heart or lung condition should avoid strenuous work or exercise outside.

“Ground-level ozone is formed when sunlight and hot weather bake vehicle exhaust, factory emissions and gasoline vapors,” IDEM said in a press release.

IDEM says when ozone is at ground-level, it can make it more difficult to breathe and cause coughing. People can help reduce ground-level ozone by walking, biking, or using public transit.

If you do have to drive your car, IDEM says to make fewer trips and turn off your engine if you’re idling for more than 30 seconds. You can also set your thermostat to higher than 75 degrees.

Thursday’s ozone advisory will affect the following counties:

• Southeast – Clark, Floyd, Harrison, Jackson, Jefferson, Scott, and Washington
• Southwest – Daviess, Dubois, Gibson, Greene, Knox, Perry, Pike, Posey, Spencer, Vanderburgh, and Warrick
• Central – Marion, Bartholomew, Boone, Brown, Delaware, Hamilton, Hancock, Hendricks, Johnson, Madison, Monroe, Morgan and Shelby
• Northwest – Lake, Porter, LaPorte
• North Central – St. Joseph, Elkhart
• Northeast – Allen, Huntington
• West Central – Vigo