BY BEN L. KAUFMAN
The Cincinnati Enquirer
The unusual September smog alert has been extended through sundown today in the Tristate because forecasters expect the weather to remain perfect for cooking pollutants into breath-taking ozone. The high ozone monitor reading Monday appeared to be 102 parts per billion (ppb) at Middletown at 4 p.m., below the federal limit. Wind later in the day helped readings fall further.
"I think we're going to make it," said Harry St. Clair, supervisor for air monitoring and analysis for the Hamilton County Department of Environmental Services.
No cleansing rain is expected before early Wednesday, and today's weather is to be hot and clear again.
The alert was declared Sunday after monitoring stations in Warren and Hamilton counties recorded ozone above the federal limit of 124 ppb and more hot, clear weather was predicted for Monday.
The Sycamore monitor on Grooms Road recorded 127 ppb at 4 p.m. Sunday, and two hours later it was 136 ppb in Lebanon.
Those were one-hour averages.
Sunday's highest one-minute reading was 146.8 ppb at Lebanon at 5:52 p.m., Mr. St. Clair said.
Kentucky had a near-miss Sunday with 121 ppb in Kenton County at 5 p.m., although state air-quality personnel stressed that the reading has not been checked for accuracy.
Those were the first limit-busters after mid-August in a decade, said Mr. St. Clair. They were an unpleasant surprise.
The best way to reduce emissions is to reduce vehicle travel. People are asked to ride Metro or TANK, refuel vehicles and mow lawns after 6 p.m.
The American Lung Association recommends that children, people with asthma and senior citizens stay indoors during a smog alert.
