Smoke, Pollution In Metro Denver: Wednesday Forecast

DENVER, CO — Unhealthy air quality is expected to continue Wednesday in Denver's metro area as smoke from California wildfires lingers, state public health officials said.

Fine particulate matter concentrations from the smoke along the Front Range and foothills are expected to be in the 'moderate' to 'unhealthy for sensitive groups' categories Wednesday, the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment said.

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

"Throughout the Front Range region, people with heart or lung disease, older and active adults, and children should reduce prolonged or heavy exertion on Wednesday," the agency said.

Visibility in Denver is expected to be in the 'poor' or 'extremely poor' categories again on Wednesday, health officials said.

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Denver had the worst air quality in the world at certain times Saturday, Sunday and Monday, according to the IQAir pollution ranking.

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 and Boulder so far this summer.

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.