Overview
- The RIVM issued the warning on Tuesday for a narrow band of elevated ozone stretching from Leiden through Hilversum and Utrecht to Flevoland and Zwolle.
- Officials say the highest impacts are expected in the afternoon and early evening and that children, the elderly and people with asthma face the greatest risk of breathing or eye and throat irritation.
- The institute advises sensitive people to stay indoors and avoid heavy physical exertion and to contact a doctor if symptoms such as severe coughing or shortness of breath develop.
- Ozone spikes form when traffic and industrial nitrogen oxides and volatile organic compounds react under strong sunlight on days with little wind, and the Dutch index labels air as 'slecht' once concentrations pass 180 micrograms per cubic metre.
- Short-term forecasts show a wind-direction change that should disperse the pollution by Wednesday, and these ozone episodes are typically brief once weather shifts occur.