1.5 Million Drivers Told to Avoid Gas Stations

Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources.
Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content.
More than 1.5 million residents across six Michigan counties have been urged to avoid refueling vehicles and limit other activities that contribute to ozone pollution in an air quality advisory issued for Wednesday.
Why It Matters
Experts caution that poor air quality poses increased health risks for vulnerable groups, including the elderly, children and those with respiratory conditions.
What To Know
The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) issued the advisory after forecasting elevated ozone levels, with air quality expected to reach the "Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups" threshold in Allegan, Kent, Muskegon, Ottawa, Berrien and Van Buren counties.
The advisory was triggered by a combination of high temperatures (in the 70s and 80s degrees Fahrenheit), ample sunlight and winds conducive to ozone development—compounded by wildfire smoke from Canada lingering over the region.
EGLE and the National Weather Service have urged residents to postpone refueling vehicles or topping off gas tanks as this activity contributes to ozone formation.
Drivers in affected counties were asked to consider telecommuting, combining errands or using alternative modes of transport, such as walking or cycling. Additional recommendations included avoiding gasoline-powered lawn equipment and using water-based paints.
"It is recommended that, when possible, you avoid strenuous outdoor activities, especially those with respiratory diseases such as asthma," the NWS alert said.
What People Are Saying
AccuWeather meteorologist Brandon Buckingham previously told Newsweek: "Ozone is a secondary pollutant, meaning it's not emitted directly from sources, but is formed through chemical reactions. These reactions require sunlight and higher temperatures, making warmer months more prone to ozone formation. When air is stagnant, pollutants don't get dispersed, allowing ozone to build up to unhealthy levels.
"Ozone pollution is often more severe in urban areas where there are higher concentrations of pollutants from sources like cars, power plants, and industrial activities."
Jonathan Grigg, a professor of pediatric respiratory and environmental medicine at Queen Mary University of London, previously told Newsweek that there were "very clear links" between inhaling particles and earlier death from both respiratory and cardiovascular diseases.
He added that conditions such as asthma are exacerbated by exposure to air pollution.
The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy said in a forecast: "Partly cloudy conditions look to persist through the rest of the week, but temperatures hang around the 70s to 80s. Air quality will hang around the Good to Moderate range after Wednesday."
What Happens Next
The National Weather Service issues regular forecast updates on its website.

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Learn with AIFact CheckingText to SpeechAI Summary

Related Articles

Newsweek

7 hours ago

• Newsweek

French Scientists Discover New Blood Group

Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. A group of French researchers have discovered a new, "ultra rare" blood group in a Guadeloupean woman after years of researching and sequencing her blood, the French Blood Establishment (EFS) said in a Friday press release. Newsweek has reached out to EFS's press team for comment via email on Saturday. Why It Matters The discovery marks the 48th known blood group system in the world. Understanding blood types is critical for ensuring safe and effective transfusions and organ transplants, as well as identifying certain health risks. Blood classification helps medical providers determine compatibility—or lack thereof—between donors and recipients. There are approximately 14 million units of blood transfused annually in the United States, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Outside of the well-known ABO system, there are a series of rare blood groups. What To Know In a social media post on LinkedIn, the EFS said in French that "this discovery was officially recognized in early June in Milan by the International Society of Blood Transfusion (ISBT)." The woman is the only known carrier of a rare blood type called "Gwada negative." The case first drew attention in 2011 when she required a blood transfusion, but no compatible donor could be found. Researchers later revisited her case in 2019 and identified the unique blood type through further analysis, according to the EFS's Friday press release. Thierry Peyrard, a medical biologist at the EFS involved in the discovery, told Agence France-Presse (AFP) that a "very unusual" antibody was found in the patient's blood in 2011. She was 54 years old at the time when she underwent a series of tests prior to surgery, according to Le Monde. Due to limited resources at the time, research into her blood type had been halted. Peyrard said the woman inherited the blood type from her parents who had the mutated gene. EFS, in French, said that the discovery "brings hope to patients, especially those with a rare blood type. Remember that the safety of a transfusion depends on the compatibility of blood groups." The group says it has been responsible for identifying 10 of the past 17 blood group systems discovered in the past decade. Karl Landsteiner discovered the first blood groups in the early 1900s and was awarded the Nobel Prize in 1930 for his work. Serum tubes with blood samples from patients are processed in the central medical laboratory of the St. Georg Clinic in Leipzig. Serum tubes with blood samples from patients are processed in the central medical laboratory of the St. Georg Clinic in Leipzig. Waltraud Grubitzsch/picture-alliance/dpa/AP Images What People Are Saying The official Nobel Prize account posted on X, formerly Twitter, on June 17: "The discovery of blood groups completely changed the view on blood transfusions, and it didn't take long before the first successful attempts were carried out. During WWI, blood transfusions were first performed on a large scale. Countless lives were also saved through surgeries, which previously had been unfeasible due to the blood loss involved." What Happens Next? Scientists continue to study blood types, advancing global health care and improving the precision and effectiveness of transfusions.

USA Today

9 hours ago

• USA Today

The best summer AC temperature? Experts have an unpopular answer.

To save energy and money, experts say to set your thermostat to 78 degrees Fahrenheit when you wake up. Here's why. Summer 2025 is here and temperatures are reaching dangerous levels, making air conditioning important for comfort and safety. But what temperature should you set your thermostat at? The answer is a balancing act between energy savings, comfort and safety. 'It is essential to stay cool during hot weather — use air conditioning or go to a cool place where you feel comfortable,' Dr. Michelle Morse, New York City's acting health commissioner, said in a statement. 'Heat is dangerous, but taking certain precautions can prevent illness and protect your health.' People also have bills to pay as AC demand skyrockets. Here are ways to stay cool while balancing budgets. Summer 2025 brings killer heat. Here are some surprising ways to stay safe. What's the best temperature to set your AC? The best temperature to set your air conditioning is 78 degrees Fahrenheit when you wake up, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Energy Star program. Energy companies in Florida, Maryland and Missouri also recommend thermostats at 78 degrees during summer months. Not many people follow this recommendation, as a 2021 Consumer Reports survey showed. And a 2024 poll from the Detroit Free Press, part of the USA TODAY Network, found 72 degrees was a favorite among readers. But setting your thermostat at a higher temperature can maximize efficiency. What temperature should the thermostat be when I sleep during summer? As temperatures ideally drop at night, people should set thermostats 4 degrees warmer when they go to sleep. If you're away from home, you can avoid unnecessary energy usage by setting temperatures 7 degrees warmer, the energy department said. Even 7 to 10 degrees, for around 8 hours daily, can save up to 10% annually on cooling and heating. Other summer energy tips There are other methods to stay cool, which USA TODAY compiled here. You should also check on others who may be more vulnerable to heat-related illness, including young children, older people and people with chronic health issues. If it gets too hot, look for a nearby cooling center. Even public areas, such as malls, museums or pools, can give critical respite. Contributing: Jeanine Santucci and Greta Cross, USA TODAY. Eduardo Cuevas is based in New York City. Reach him by email at emcuevas1@ or on Signal at emcuevas.01.

Boston Globe

9 hours ago

• Boston Globe

A heat wave leaves Britons looking for ways to stay cool

'A lot more of my friends now have air conditioning,' Youssef said. 'People wouldn't have thought about air conditioning five years or so ago.' As the United States sweats through its own run of high heat, temperatures in Britain have been above the seasonal average for days. The country was forecast to officially tip into the first heat wave of the year Saturday, with a high of 34 degrees Celsius, or about 93 degrees Fahrenheit, according to the Met Office, Britain's weather service. The average high for June is around 64 Fahrenheit, and many homes are designed to retain heat, given Britain's historically cooler climate. But high temperatures have become more common in the past few years. And climate scientists have warned that heat waves will become more intense as the planet grows warmer. Advertisement In recent days, some U.K. schools have allowed children to wear their own clothes rather than school uniforms, or at least to leave the ties and blazers at home. People who would normally work from home went to the office for the air conditioning. Robert Dyas, a national retailer of housewares and appliances, said that its stores have seen a 4,000% increase in the sale of fans and air conditioning units from 2019 to 2024. Advertisement Richard Salmon, director of the Air Conditioning Co. in London, said that his business has boomed as temperatures have risen, with demand for portable air conditioning units increasing by 625% compared with last year. 'You'd be amazed how many orders we get between 1 a.m. and 3 a.m. from customers who can't sleep because of the heat,' he said. He planned to open the warehouse before 6 a.m. Saturday in anticipation of the weekend's high heat. For Britain's more vulnerable, the heat poses a health risk. The U.K. Health Security Agency issued an amber-level heat health alert across the whole of England through Monday, meaning that significant effects are likely across health and social care services, including a rise in deaths. Care UK, which operates 165 elder care homes across the country, said it would focus on keeping residents hydrated with icy treats and a specially formulated tea. 'It can be tricky for those caring for a loved one to ensure they drink enough, but little things can make a big difference,' said Andrew Mussett, the group's nutritionist. In London, the mayor's office has designated hundreds of 'cool spaces,' public spaces offering shelter from the sun. At one of them, the St. Luke's Community Center in the Islington area of North London, Collin Browne watched the Royal Ascot horse racing event on television while a portable fan blasted cool air onto his face. Across the room, another fan whirred. Advertisement 'I don't cope,' Browne said of the heat. 'When it's muggy, I just get very irritable.' For others, the warmer summers are bringing more mixed feelings. On Clapham Common, a grassy expanse in South London, friends and co-workers Darcey Wilkinson and Finty Willis enjoyed the sun, as they studied for an insurance industry exam on a picnic blanket. 'I can't believe this is the U.K., and I feel like there's definitely a consciousness of 'Is this normal?'' Willis said. In their first year of professional work since graduating from university, Wilkinson and Willis said that they had taken advantage of their office's air conditioning, and had to budget for a much lighter summer wardrobe than they had expected. Across the grass, dozens of children squealed under the neon pink and orange sprinklers spinning in the splash bath. Emily Williams, 34, has enjoyed the common's fountains since she was a child and brought her 19-month-old daughter, who was wearing a soaking wet hat to keep cool. 'I don't remember it being this hot, but I remember having great summers,' Williams said. For many Britons, air conditioning remains out of reach, and the best way to beat the heat is to cool down outside. With an ice cream cone in one hand and a pint in the other, Chris Warren led his friends to a shaded spot in a square outside the Rose and Crown pub in Clapham's Old Town Square. 'I love the heat,' Warren, 31, said. 'I'm Scottish -- it's too hot for me,' said Ryan Wilkin, 31, as he fanned himself. 'I can't deal with this.' This article originally appeared in