State Issues Air Quality Alert: Wednesday & Thursday

NARRAGANSETT — The state has issued an Air Quality Alert Day for Providence, Kent and Washington counties on Wednesday and for Narragansett on Thursday. According to the forecast, a strong ridge of high pressure settles in over the region with very warm temperatures and sunny skies for Wednesday. Conditions are favorable for ozone formation reaching unhealthy levels during the late afternoon through late into the evening.

Thursday, ozone levels will once again approach unhealthy levels for inland areas, with high temperatures to near 90 inland. A cold front will spell drier and cleaner air for Friday with good air quality anticipated.

On Wednesday, air quality is acceptable; however, for some pollutants there may be a moderate health concern for a very small number of people. For example, people who are unusually sensitive to ozone may experience respiratory symptoms.

The Department of Health warns that unhealthy levels of ozone can cause throat irritation, coughing, chest pain, shortness of breath, increased susceptibility to respiratory infection and aggravation of asthma and other respiratory ailments. These symptoms are worsened by exercise and heavy activity. The children, elderly and people who have underlying lung diseases, such as asthma, are at particular risk of suffering from these effects. As ozone levels increase, the number of people affected and the severity of the health effects also increase.

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