TOLEDO, Ohio — With the summer heat comes sweating and the need to drink extra water to stay hydrated.
But according to state officials, it also plays a role in the air we breathe, and in northwest Ohio, the air has taken a hit.
"What we're looking at right now is ground-level ozone, more than the particulate that we saw from the (2023 Canadian) wildfires," said Anne Vogel, director of the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency.
Ground-level Ozone, according to the U.S. EPA, can be dangerous, as it is the main ingredient for smog.
The Ohio EPA tracks air quality levels with the 'AirNow' air quality monitoring system, which detects levels nationwide.
Northwest Ohio and southeast Michigan this week were labeled under the 'moderate' category (51-100 AQI), leaving the question: how does this happen?
"You have things like tailpipe emissions, you have exhaust, and when that reacts with organic materials in the sunlight, and then there's no wind or no rain to wash it out of the air, no wind to move it, it builds up as ground-level ozone," Vogel said.
With the record heat the area has seen this week, along with the sporadic rainfall and overall dryness, it has turned into a perfect recipe for ozone accumulation. according to Vogel.
"You've kind of got a perfect storm. It's sunny, it's dry and it's still," she said.
AirNow recommends people living in moderate zones proceed with caution, saying "If you are unusually sensitive to ozone, consider reducing your activity level or shorten the amount of time you are active outdoors."
Vogel said levels will improve when it rains, though.
Doctors are not overly concerned but are always urging sensitive groups to take caution and protect themselves.
"We recommend that they take it easy, and so while you may need to carry out your duties, you may need to rest more and not exert yourself quite as much," said Dr. James Tita, a pulmonologist from Mercy Health Toledo. "If you notice that you're developing symptoms, get inside and get to an area where you're not exposed to that same level."