Less smoggy, but still unhealthy: Denver metro under ozone action day alert

DENVER ( KDVR ) — After a week of hazy sunshine and some of the worst air quality in the nation , Denver is once again under an air quality alert.

The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment issued an ozone action day alert from 4 p.m. Sunday through at least 4 p.m. Monday .

The influx of ozone is due to a combination of factors, the state health agency said. Hot and dry weather, plus incoming wildfire smoke, is expected to push ozone and fine particulate levels to the “ unhealthy for sensitive groups ” category on Monday. That means unusually sensitive people should reduce any prolonged or heavy outdoor exertion on Monday due to the ozone concentration.

The highest concentrations are anticipated in the Denver metro area and north toward Fort Collins. Visibility around the area is also expected to be poor.

Garfield and Mesa counties are also under an air quality health advisory due to wildfire smoke, but the advisory is expected to end by 9 a.m. Monday.

The advisory is due to the Jones Fire , which is burning in Mesa County about 15 miles southeast of Fruita in the King’s Canyon area of the Black Ridge Canyons Wilderness. Smoke from the fire has traveled as far as Glenwood Springs.

What is ozone, and why does Colorado have action days?

Ground-level ozone is a product of car exhaust, industrial emissions, gasoline vapors and more, according to the National Weather Service. NWS said that even low concentrations of ozone can trigger a range of health problems: Lung irritation, asthma attacks, wheezing and coughing, to name a few.

Poor air quality can cause serious health issues, and air quality alerts are issued to help prevent air-quality-related asthma attacks, among other health symptoms. The Environmental Protection Agency’s AirNow website suggests checking on air quality forecasts and doing outdoor activities when ozone levels are lower, which is often in the morning.

CDPHE issues action days when there are either current air quality conditions that are unhealthy, or conditions are expected to worsen later in the day or the next day. On Sunday, the state’s air quality was mainly “moderate.” The Colorado River Valley and Aspen both had “good” air quality on Sunday, according to CDPHE.

The state reports on its website that action days are intended to convey an overarching public health recommendation.

More wildfire smoke could be headed to Colorado

Fires in southern California, in addition to other southwest areas of the desert, are anticipated to send Colorado smoke through at least Tuesday, according to the CDPHE Colorado Smoke Blog.

The scientists running the blog said the entire state is unlikely to be impacted but anticipate the smoke will be noticeable across northern Colorado.

That being said, there are a few ways to protect yourself and your loved ones during ozone alert action days. The National Weather Service suggests the following steps:

• Stay inside if possible, especially if you’re an older adult or child
• If you must go out, limit the time spent out to strictly essential activities
• Minimize the use of items that produce pollution, such as cars, gas lawn equipment or other gas-powered engines
• Do not burn debris during an air quality alert
• Check in with local meteorologists for up-to-date conditions

The Pinpoint Weather team will be covering the air quality, along with other weather conditions throughout the week, so stay for any further air quality alerts.

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