DEP Issues Air Quality Ozone Alert For SE Pa.
PITTSBURGH (AP) — The Department of Environmental Protection has issued an ozone air quality alert for southeastern Pennsylvania.
The DEP says the code orange alert is in effect Tuesday for Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery and Philadelphia counties.
Under the system green represents good air quality, yellow is moderate, orange represents unhealthy pollution levels for sensitive people, and red warns of unhealthy pollution levels for everyone.
Ground-level ozone, a key component of smog, forms during warm weather when pollution from vehicles, industry, households and power plants heats up, making it hard for some people to breathe.
DEP says the elderly and those with respiratory problems such as asthma are especially vulnerable to air pollution and should limit outdoor activities.
(© Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)
