Higher temperatures = more ozone

On top of the triple-digit heat, Southe Califoia also is getting slammed with unhealthful levels of smog.

Levels of lung-irritating ozone pollution rise in hot, stagnant weather as it cooks up urban pollutants. Specifically, volatile organic compounds, such as industrial solvents, react with nitrogen dioxides from buing fuel, to create the unstable gas.

Ozone causes nausea, headaches and buing eyes, and it triggers asthma attacks, among other health problems. It also has been linked in studies to early deaths.

As well, the Southu2009Coast Air Quality Management District has issued a smoke advisory because of the pair of fires buing in the Angeles National Forest and Azusa/Duarte areas.

AQMD officials say air quality could reach unhealthy levels in areas impacted by smoke, including portions of:

•u2009The East Sanu2009Gabriel Valley

•u2009The Pomona/Walnut Valley

•u2009Sanu2009Gabriel Mountains

•u2009Metropolitan Riverside

The AQMD urges people to exercise caution and avoid uecessary outdoor activities in any area directly impacted by smoke.

The air pollution for Tuesday was expected to be unhealthful for all people in the Riverside, Sanu2009Beardino, Perris and Lake Elsinore areas, according the Southu2009Coast Air Quality Management District.

It was forecast to be unhealthful for sensitive people, such as asthmatics and those with heart conditions, in Corona, Baing, Coachellau2009Valley, Bigu2009Bear Lake, Pomona, the Sanu2009Gabriel Valley, and Santau2009Clarita areas.

The dreary forecast follows three consecutive days of unhealthful levels of ozone in the region.

So far this year, levels of ozone pollution in the Southe Califoia’s ocean-to-mountains air basin has surpassed the federal health standard during 27u2009days, according state data. This put the bad-air-day count well ahead of last year — when only 18u2009unhealthful days were logged by Sunday.

And more is ahead. Typically, the worst smog occurs during the summer months.

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