High levels of ozone pollution (smog) are being forecast by the Puget Sound Clean Air Agency for the Cascade foothills of King and Pierce counties and are expected to reach the “Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups (USG)” category today as the region again comes under the influence of a hot and stagnant weather pattern.
Exposure to ground-level ozone can trigger asthma attacks, make breathing difficult, exacerbate lung and heart problems and weaken the immune system. The Washington State Department of Health recommends that people who are sensitive to air pollution limit time spent outdoors. Air pollution is especially harmful to children, people with heart and lung problems, and adults over age 65.
Smoggy conditions will mostly impact communities in the Cascade foothills of King and Pierce counties. These outlying suburban and rural areas accumulate pollution generated by traffic and activities in the urban areas of Everett, Seattle and Tacoma.
Air quality in the Cascade foothills is predicted to improve to the “Moderate” category Thursday, and back to “Good” on Friday and for the remainder of the weekend.