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Air Quality Alert Issued For Connecticut

DANBURY, Conn. -- The air quality may be unhealthy for "sensitive groups" from Sunday, June 19 through Tuesday, June 21, according to a forecast by Connecticut’s Department of Energy and Environmental Protection.

The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection is urging the public to be aware of air quality this weekend.

The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection is urging the public to be aware of air quality this weekend.

Photo Credit: File

“We are expecting air quality that will impact our most vulnerable residents, including children, the elderly and those with respiratory disease such as asthma,” said Commissioner Robert Klee. “Since it is Father’s Day weekend and we’re issuing an air quality alert, we urge all ‘Dads’ to take the weekend off from cutting the lawn – to minimize any health impacts on themselves and to avoid contributing additional emissions into the air from their lawn mower.”

The department projects weather patterns will create ground-level ozone pollution in northern Fairfield, northern New Haven, northern Middlesex and Hartford counties, and these conditions may spread to the entire state by Monday.

The arrival of summer's sunshine can cause chemical reactions of air pollutants, resulting in ozone formation. This warmer weather can lead to high levels of ground level ozone and fine particulate matter, both of which pose health risks to young children, the elderly and people with respiratory disease. 

Peak ozone levels occur between noon and 8 p.m. Sensitive individuals should get their outdoor activity and exercise done before or after this period. 

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