Americans Warned to Avoid Driving in Three States

Health officials issued air quality warnings due to high ozone pollution levels across parts of Arizona, Colorado and Connecticut, urging citizens to avoid driving and limit outdoor activities. Officials warned that ground-level ozone levels had reached thresholds dangerous to sensitive groups such as children, the elderly and those with existing respiratory conditions, Knewz.com has learned.

Inhaling Ozone Could Trigger or Worsen Respiratory Illnesses

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and local agencies cautioned that inhaling ozone, a key component of smog, could trigger or exacerbate respiratory illnesses like asthma, chronic bronchitis and emphysema. Unlike ozone in the upper atmosphere that protects against ultraviolet rays, ground-level ozone is harmful when breathed in and can lead to significant health risks, especially on hot, stagnant days, according to reports. Ozone exposure can also irritate the respiratory system and inflame airways.

Ozone Action Day in Colorado

In Colorado, an ozone action day alert was issued across the Front Range Urban Corridor, which includes heavily populated areas such as Denver, Fort Collins and Greeley. “Ozone may reach levels that are Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups in the northern portions of the Front Range including Denver, Fort Collins and Greeley,” an air quality alert published by the National Weather Service (NWS) said. Counties in Colorado affected by the NWS alert include Douglas, Jefferson, Denver, western Arapahoe, western Adams, Broomfield, Boulder, Larimer and Weld. Notably, the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment reiterated that this is part of a long-standing issue in the Front Range, which has struggled to meet federal ozone standards for years, due in part to urban sprawl and vehicle emissions.

Residents Asked to Avoid Driving

In Arizona, the NWS issued a high pollution advisory for the Phoenix metropolitan area. The alert read, “This means that forecast weather conditions combined with existing ozone levels are expected to result in local maximum 8-hour ozone concentrations that pose a health risk. … Adverse health effects increase as air quality deteriorates.” Air quality alerts were also issued in Fairfield and Litchfield counties in Connecticut. Residents in potentially affected areas were requested to help reduce ozone pollution by limiting driving gas-powered vehicles until at least 4 p.m. local time. The NWS recommended carpooling, telecommuting and public transportation, along with delaying gas-powered equipment use until after sundown. “Active children and adults, as well as those with lung diseases should reduce prolonged or heavy outdoor exertion,” reports mentioned.

Experts Explain the Effects of Ozone Pollution

AccuWeather meteorologist Brandon Buckingham explained in a statement, “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.” He added that ozone pollution is usually more severe in urban areas, “where there are higher concentrations of pollutants from sources like cars, power plants and industrial activities.” Jonathan Grigg, professor of pediatric respiratory and environmental medicine at Queen Mary, University of London, highlighted the heightened risks for children, saying, “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.”

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