The ozone in Rhode Island is unhealthy, the state declared.
The Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management issued an air quality alert for Wednesday.
The department warned that there are unhealthy ozone levels for sensitive groups "across the entire state," with peak levels beginning in the early afternoon.
Unhealthy ozone levels may cause throat irritation, coughing and chest pain, as well as shortness of breath and increased risk of respiratory infections, according to the department.
The ozone levels can also aggravate asthma and other lung conditions, "particularly for children, the elderly, and others with pre-existing respiratory issues," the department cautioned.
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