KTLA

Heat Wave: High temps bring ozone pollution danger to SoCal

Cameron Kiszla and Jennifer McGraw

In addition to the triple-digit temperatures expected this week, Southern California residents face another environmental danger: air pollution.

Through Wednesay, the excessive heat — expected to be over 100 degrees in Los Angeles County and up to 112 degrees inland — will increase “the likelihood of poor air quality in many areas,” the South Coast Air Quality Management District said in a news release.

Ground-level ozone or smog, the “predominant summertime pollutant,” is expected to reach unhealthy levels for sensitive groups (such as children, older adults and people with heart or lung disease) in some areas, and the San Bernardino Mountains and San Bernardino Valley are expected to be “even worse,” with very unhealthy levels possible during the afternoon, the AQMD said.

“Elevated temperatures increase emissions of chemicals leading to ozone formation and enhance ozone formation rates. This long duration and intense heat wave will likely cause unusually high and persistent levels of ozone pollution,” the release added.

Ozone pollution can lead to health issues like asthma attacks, trouble breathing and lung damage, and it can increase the risk of premature death, the AQMD said.

“Everyone is susceptible to the harmful effects of ozone … Breathing high levels of ozone can lead to some pretty bad health effects, so you want to protect your health,” said AQMD spokesperson Scott Epstein.

Large portions of Southern California could see elevated ozone pollution levels due to a heat wave, as shown in this AQMD map released on Aug. 29, 2022.

Air quality could be dangerous in the below areas.

For more information, visit the AQMD’s website, or check out the Air Quality Index map.