Stay indoors alert as toxic smog spreads across three US states

"Residents in parts of Arizona, Texas and California have been warned by the National Weather Service (NWS) to limit outdoor activity and take precautions as dangerous ozone pollution spreads across heavily populated regions."

"Ground-level ozone is a powerful oxidant that acts as a respiratory irritant, causing immediate breathing difficulties like coughing, throat irritation and chest pain. It can damage the lungs, worsen asthma and other breathing conditions and increase the risk of long-term heart and lung problems."

"The Arizona Department of Environmental Quality warned that weather conditions combined with existing pollution levels were expected to create dangerous ozone concentrations in both areas. The largest alert was issued for the Phoenix metro area in Maricopa County, where the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) warned that weather conditions combined with existing pollution levels were expected to create dangerous ozone concentrations through Tuesday."

"Ground-level ozone is a harmful air pollutant that forms when emissions from cars, power plants and industrial facilities react with heat and sunlight, creating dangerous smog on hot days. Phoenix is experiencing unusually hot weather for early May, with temperatures expected to reach between 104 and 110 degrees during Mother's Day weekend, well above the normal low 90s for this time of year."

Millions of Americans in Arizona, Texas, and California were urged to stay indoors as toxic smog from dangerous ground-level ozone spread across heavily populated areas. The National Weather Service warned residents to limit outdoor activity and take precautions. Ground-level ozone acts as a respiratory irritant, causing coughing, throat irritation, and chest pain, and it can damage lungs, worsen asthma and other breathing conditions, and increase long-term heart and lung risks. Air quality alerts were issued for the Phoenix metro area and Tucson in Arizona, for El Paso and surrounding communities in Texas, and for the Imperial Valley in California. Hot weather and existing pollution levels were expected to drive ozone concentrations higher through the afternoon and into Tuesday.

Read at Mail Online