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.
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…