Millions of Americans across Texas, Arizona, and Colorado were advised to take action due to potentially hazardous pollution levels on Friday, as air quality alerts were issued by the National Weather Service (NWS) in collaboration with local agencies.
Why It Matters
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) cautions that exposure to ozone may irritate the respiratory tract; cause airway inflammation; and aggravate existing conditions such as asthma, emphysema and chronic bronchitis.
Vulnerable populations—such as older adults, children and individuals with lung diseases—are at greater risk.
What To Know
In Texas, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality had issued an ozone action day for the Dallas-Fort Worth area.
These are issued when weather conditions are expected to be ideal for high ozone pollution levels, the air-quality alert said…