Heatwave in the U.S. Midwest Triggers Ozone Levels Above Safety Standards

Central states such as Kansas and Nebraska have experienced prolonged periods of hot, stagnant weather. As a result, vehicle exhaust, agricultural emissions, and industrial pollutants have undergone photochemical reactions, causing ground-level ozone concentrations to exceed safety standards by more than twofold and pushing the Air Quality Index (AQI) into the “unhealthy” range.