Health officials warn of poor visibility due to air pollution

Colorado health officials issued a poor air quality advisory Sunday for a seven-county area encompassing Denver and Boulder.

The bad air is expected to exceed state visibility standards Monday.

The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment officials declared an “action day,” requesting that residents voluntarily restrict indoor wood-burning and avoid driving — at least until 4 p.m. Monday.

The air pollution action days generally indicate that the air people breath will be unhealthy, especially for sensitive residents including the elderly and people with asthma.

No health advisories were issued for ozone, carbon monoxide and nitrogen dioxide pollution.

Particulate air pollution, however, increased to a level that triggered a downgrading of air quality conditions from “good” to “moderate” in the Denver metro area and northward along the Front Range urban corridor including central and southern Weld County and the city of Greeley. That means respiratory problems related to particulate pollution are possible for sensitive residents who have heart, lung and cardiopulmonary problems. Health officials advised those most likely to be affected to consider reducing activities that require heavy exertion through Monday.

Colorado officials have been under pressure to reduce air pollution and meet federal health standards. For ozone, the average levels in Adams, Arapahoe, Boulder, Broomfield, Denver, Douglas, Jefferson, Larimer and Weld counties exceed a 2008 federal limit of 75 parts per billion, let alone the current national limit of 70 ppb.