Smoke, Pollution In Metro Denver: Wednesday Forecast

DENVER, CO — State public health officials have issued a pollution forecast for Wednesday in Denver's metro area.

Ozone concentrations are expected to be in the 'moderate' to 'unhealthy for sensitive groups' categories Wednesday.

"Active children and adults, and people with lung disease, such as asthma should reduce prolonged or heavy outdoor exertion on Wednesday from noon to 8 pm," the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment said.

Fine particulate matter concentrations from wildfire smoke along the Front Range and foothills are expected to be in the 'moderate' to 'good' categories Wednesday, the agency said.

Visibility in Denver is expected to be in the 'poor' category.

Both carbon monoxide and nitrogen dioxide levels will be in the 'good' category, public health officials said.

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The combination of the smoke and the ozone has made it difficult for many Coloradans to enjoy a summer outdoors. Dozens of action day alerts for ozone have been issued for metro Denver since May.

Ozone pollution, often called smog, forms when gases that come out of tailpipes and smokestacks, among other sources, come into contact with sunlight. Ozone is "one of the most dangerous and widespread pollutants in the U.S.," the lung association said.

Ozone can damage people's airways, make their lungs more susceptible to infection and aggravate lung diseases, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

>> Read the full air quality advisory here.