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By Joe Edwards
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Over half a million people in California were warned of potentially harmful levels of ozone pollution on Friday, due to wildfire smoke and an ongoing heat wave.
They were also advised to avoid additional pollution sources such as fireplaces, candles, and incense.
Meanwhile, air quality alerts published by the National Weather Service (NWS) impacted parts of Ohio and Colorado.
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Why It Matters
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) warns that exposure to ozone may irritate the respiratory tract, cause airway inflammation, and aggravate existing conditions such as asthma, emphysema, and chronic bronchitis.
What To Know
An ozone advisory issued by the South Coast Air Quality Management District (AQMD) said that a "multiday extreme ozone" event was affecting much of its jurisdiction, which includes all of Orange County, as well as large portions of Los Angeles, Riverside, and San Bernadino Counties.
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Areas affected by the alert included Pasadena, Santa Clarita, Riverside, Indio, Banning, and Cathedral City.
In an air quality alert for the region published by the NWS, authorities noted that the highest ozone levels usually occur in the afternoon and early evening hours.
"Everyone can be affected, but sensitive groups such as people with lung disease, older adults, people who are pregnant, children, and those who spend a lot of time outdoors are at greater risk," it said.
Residents in the affected area were advised to take steps to help reduce pollution levels, including limiting the use of gasoline powered lawn and garden equipment until the evening hours.
To keep indoor air clean during periods of poor air quality, locals were also advised to keep windows and doors shut, run air conditioners or purifiers, and to avoid additional pollution sources such as fireplaces, candles, and incense.
Multiple fires were burning in Southern California on Friday, according to a map from nonprofit Watch Duty, including the 4,856-acre Canyon fire northwest of Los Angeles and the Rosa fire, which had burned 1,690 acres southwest of Indio, the map showed.
Further northwest, the Gifford fire continued to rage, having burned more than 99,000 acres.
In Colorado, an air quality health advisory had been issued due to wildfire smoke, affecting Moffat, Routt, Grand, Rio Blanco, Jackson, and Dolores Counties.
"Smoke from large wildfires in Rio Blanco County is impacting a large area of Colorado," the alert said. "Periods of moderate to heavy smoke are possible throughout the advisory area on Thursday."
Dolores County's alert was prompted by the Stoner Mesa fire, which was located in the eastern part of the county.
These alerts were in force until 9 a.m. local time.
In Ohio, Ashtabula, Cuyahoga, Geauga, Lake, Lorain, Medina, Portage and Summit Counties had been issued an air quality alert for ground level ozone, in effect until midnight Friday night.
"Air quality levels will be unhealthy for sensitive groups during this period. If you are in the sensitive groups category of children, the elderly and those with breathing difficulties, please monitor your outdoor activity," read the alert.
What People Are Saying
AccuWeather meteorologist Brandon Buckingham told Newsweek previously: "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."
What Happens Next
At the time of writing, the ozone advisory for California was in force until 8 p.m. on Saturday.
Agencies such as the NWS and South Coast AQMD issue regular updates on their respective websites.
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