Hundreds of Thousands Told To Avoid Driving
The Colorado Department of Public Health (CDPHE) issued an Ozone Action Day alert, meaning that ground-level ozone concentrations are forecast to reach dangerous levels that could pose a risk to sensitive groups and the general public.
The National Weather Service (NWS) warned that high ozone levels in the state on Thursday risk "increasing likelihood of respiratory symptoms and breathing discomfort in active children and adults and people with lung disease, such as asthma."
It added: "Active children and adults, and people with lung disease, such as asthma, should reduce prolonged or heavy outdoor exertion."
The Ozone Action Day alert is in force until 4 p.m. in Douglas, Jefferson, Denver, Arapahoe, Adams, Broomfield, Boulder, Larimer, and Weld counties.
The NWS said that "hot and stagnant conditions will allow ozone to reach the unhealthy for sensitive groups category."
It added: "If possible, please help up reduce ozone pollution by limiting driving gas and diesel-powered vehicles until at least 4 p.m."
The CDPHE said that people who are "unusually sensitive" to ozone should reduce prolonged or heavy outdoor exercise, and that everyone else should consider reducing outdoor activity.
Meanwhile, an air quality alert has also been issued for Atlanta on Thursday.
The Georgia Department of Natural Resources' Environmental Protection Division issued a Code Orange alert, meaning outdoor air quality is likely to be unhealthy for certain people.
"Children, people who are sensitive to ozone, and people with heart or lung disease should limit prolonged outdoor exertion during the late afternoon or early evening when ozone concentrations are highest," a statement issued by NWS said.
The CDPHE said on its website: "Ground-level ozone is an air pollution problem that impacts the health of all Coloradans. Exposure can cause acute respiratory problems and trigger asthma attacks. During Ozone Action alerts, avoid rigorous outdoor activity during the heat of the day. Prolonged exposure can cause long-lasting damage to your lungs.
"You can make a difference by doing your part to improve air quality along Denver's Front Range. Even during periods of wildfire smoke, reducing your personal emissions can help decrease ozone production. Combining or skipping just two car trips a week has a positive impact on our air quality."
Jonathan Grigg, professor of pediatric respiratory and environmental medicine at Queen Mary, University of London, told Newsweek previously that there are "very clear links" between inhaling particles and earlier death from both respiratory and cardiovascular diseases.
He added: "There are vulnerable groups and classically they are children because they've got an extra issue to do with their lungs developing, whereas our lungs are not developing as adults."
Air quality warnings are updated regularly by the Environmental Protection Agency and NWS.
Residents in affected areas can access real-time forecasts and health guidance via airnow.gov and local agencies as conditions develop.
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