Folks throughout metro Denver may want to avoid strenuous activity today because of an “intrusion of ozone” that’s making the , the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment said.
State officials issued an for parts of the Front Range, including Boulder, Jefferson, Denver, southern Weld and western Douglas, Arapahoe and Adams counties on Thursday morning.
“An intrusion of ozone from high up in the atmosphere to the surface is expected through at least Thursday afternoon,” in the alert, which is set to last until 4 p.m. and then transition to an Ozone Action Day Alert.
Action day alerts mean pollutants, including ozone, are either at unhealthy levels or are expected to reach unhealthy levels later in the day or the next day. An air quality index value of 101-150 is considered unhealthy for sensitive groups, while 151 and above is unhealthy.
The increased ozone levels means active adults and children, along with people with respiratory disease like asthma, are more likely to have respiratory symptoms and breathing discomfort, public health officials said.
