'Unhealthy Air Quality' Forecast for Suffield

Connecticut’s Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) is forecasting unhealthy air quality for “sensitive groups” Friday, May 8, because of predicted elevated ground-level ozone pollution for Hartford and Tolland counties.

A forecast of “Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups” indicates increased likelihood of respiratory symptoms and breathing discomfort in active children and adults with respiratory disease, such as asthma, and the elderly.

The alert is prompted by a high pressure that’s located off mid-Atlantic Coast Thursday and Friday that will continue to bring warmer air and pump elevated levels of ozone from downwind air pollution sources into Connecticut. In addition to transported air pollution, our “home grown” pollution will be intensified by the combination of strong May sunlight and later than usual blooming spring vegetation that also contributes to ozone levels at this time of year, according to the DEEP. A back door cold front will cross the area late Friday afternoon, switching the wind to the south and southeast ushering cooler ocean air, thus reducing high concentrations of ground level ozone on Saturday.

Health Effects of Air Pollution

Ground level or “bad” ozone primarily occurs during very warm summer days. Strong sunshine causes chemical reactions of air pollutants emitted from motor vehicles, power plants and industry and household activities, forming ozone. Warmer weather can bring high levels of ground level ozone (O3) and fine particulate matter (PM2.5). These two air pollutants pose serious health risks to “sensitive groups.”

Unhealthy concentrations of ground level ozone can cause or make worse a variety of respiratory and other health problems including breathing difficulty, coughing, and throat irritation and worsen asthma episodes. Anyone can be affected by ozone; particularly sensitive groups that include children, elderly, people with respiratory disease, such as asthma, and even healthy adults who are very active outdoors.

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Photo credit: Joshua Tree National Park via Flickr.com