ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) – The Albuquerque-Bernalillo County Air Quality Program has issued a Health Alert due to elevated ozone levels and smoke. The health alert has been extended until Tuesday, June 8, at 2:00 p.m.
Wildfires in Arizona are prompting the health alert and officials say the fires are causing haze to move into western New Mexico and into the Albuquerque metro area. Individuals with respiratory conditions in Albuquerque and Bernalillo County are urged to limit their outdoor activity.
According to CABQ Air, smoke from the Telegraph and Mescal fires in Arizona will reach Albuquerque between midnight and 3 a.m. on Tuesday making impacts worse than they were on Monday. Albuquerque’s Air Quality Report indicates that Tuesday’s air quality is unhealthy for particulate matter.
Individuals with heart or lung disease, children, teens, and older adults are encouraged to avoid strenuous outdoor activities, keep outdoor activities short, and consider moving physical activities indoors during this time in order to reduce exposure. The general public is encouraged to choose less strenuous activities like walking instead of running so you don’t breathe as hard.
Additionally, you can also shorten the amount of time you are active outdoors to reduce your exposure.
People who are at higher risk for respiratory issues from ozone and smoke are also more susceptible to infection and severe health consequences from COVID-19. Exposure to ozone and smoke can aggravate the severity of COVID-19 symptoms, and infection with COVID-19 can increase health impacts from ozone and smoke exposure. The risk of COVID-19 transmission remains high, and people who are vulnerable should remain at home whenever possible, especially when ozone and smoke are present.
