It’s produced when chemicals from fossil fuels or paint react under sunlight. Ozone is the most common reason for the Front Range to exceed federal air quality standards. Between 20, it averaged close to 42 alerts between May 31 and Aug. Between 20, the state health department issued an average of 30 ozone alerts each summer. The number of high-ozone days varies from year-to-year, but has generally increased over the last decade. If that projection comes to pass, it would mean roughly two out of every five days between the start of June and the end of August were potentially high-risk for people with lung conditions. (Photo by Eric Lutzens/The Denver Post) Increase in ozone daysĪs of Monday, Colorado has had 28 ozone action days since May 31, with 12 more projected through Aug. Due to the current state of the metro area’s air quality she avoids being outside during midday and usually goes outside in the morning or late evening. Lane suffers from a few respiratory ailments but loves being outdoors. People who have asthma or other lung conditions tend to have more symptoms on days with high levels of ozone or particulate matter, but staying indoors for increasing periods of the summer may not be feasible, he said.Įric Lutzens, The Denver PostLAKEWOOD, CO – JULY 23: Sylvia Lane poses for a portrait at her home on Friday, July 23, 2021. Anthony Gerber, a pulmonologist at National Jewish Health, said doctors working with patients who have lung diseases are rethinking some of their advice for dealing with poor air quality. On four of those 14 days, levels of ozone were high enough that even healthy people were advised to avoid strenuous outdoor activities, according to .ĭr. It’s a balance that others with lung conditions that could be aggravated by air pollution are having to strike, especially as smoke from wildfires burning in Colorado and across the West becomes an increasingly common summer staple.īetween July 9 and Thursday, Denver’s air was dirty enough that higher-risk people were advised to stay inside on all but one day. “I must have my fresh air for my sanity, which is why I go outside early,” she said. She said she’s “blessed” to be able to stay inside with air conditioning, but that it’s important to get outside for both exercise and mental health. Coloradans adjust to dangers of wildfire smoke, high ozone levelsĪvoiding excessive air pollution is important for people like Lane, a Lakewood resident who was diagnosed with asthma as an adult.