Monday Air Quality Forecast For Metro Denver

DENVER, CO — Unhealthy air quality can be expected in Denver's metro area Monday 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 'unhealthy' to 'unhealthy for sensitive groups' categories Monday, the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment said.

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

"People with heart or lung disease, older adults, and children should avoid prolonged or heavy exertion on Sunday and Monday; everyone else should reduce prolonged or heavy exertion," the agency said.

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Denver had the worst air quality in the world Saturday, according to the IQAir pollution ranking. Salt Lake City was briefly ranked No. 4 on the list the same day.

The bad air forced the Denver Broncos to move their Sunday training camp practice at Empower Field indoors.

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.