HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, Fla. — Hillsborough County residents with respiratory issues may want to stay inside for the next couple of days.
The county has issued an air pollution precaution, citing elevated levels of ozone.
According to the Environmental Protection Agency, ozone is an odorless, colorless gas that is both natural and man-made, depending on where it's found in the atmosphere.
It's formed when pollutants emitted by cars and industrial sources react in the presence of sunlight — which is why ozone is most likely to reach unhealthy levels on hot, sunny days.
Exposure to ozone can cause headaches, coughing, dry throat, shortness of breath, a heavy feeling in chest and fluid in the lungs, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Higher levels of exposure can lead to more severe symptoms.
Hillsborough County's notice is just a precautionary statement and is in effect until midnight on Wednesday, April 17.
For now, this means that potentially sensitive people like the elderly, children and those with lung diseases like asthma should consider reducing their time outside starting Monday evening.
"Although the air quality has not reached unhealthy levels, the Environmental Protection Commission of Hillsborough County is monitoring the ozone levels and will inform the public and media if conditions worsen," the county's notice says.
Environmental officials said the pollution may reach unhealthy levels for sensitive groups.
