Air quality action day advisory in place for Southwestern Pennsylvania

Tuesday’s hot weather means unhealthy levels of ozone in Southwestern Pennsylvania, according to the state Department of Environmental Protection.

Sunshine coupled with temperatures in the mid-90s prompted the agency to issue a Code Orange Air Quality Action Day for Allegheny, Beaver, Butler, Fayette, Washington and Westmoreland counties. Outdoor activities should be limited Tuesday for people with respiratory problems, the elderly and young children as they are more susceptible to the effects of air pollution, according to department officials.

Ozone is a gas naturally found in the Earth’s atmosphere but can become unhealthy when it forms near the ground when air pollution has a chemical reaction in sunlight, according to the Environmental Protection Agency’s AirNow. The colorless gas can irritate respiratory tracts, reduce lung function and exacerbate respiratory conditions, such as asthma.

Others can help reduce air pollution today by driving less, conserving electricity, limiting idling engines and visiting the gas station after dusk, according to the DEP. Several counties near Philadelphia are under the same advisory.