The Pima County Department of Environmental Quality (PDEQ) has issued an air quality advisory for Pima County.
The National Weather Service says winds are bringing smoke from the Frye Fire near Safford into the Tucson area, according to the PDEQ media release. Strong winds are also forecasted later today.
Particulate levels will likely remain in the air for a day or more until the wind direction, and speeds change, or if it rains. When the cloud cover dissipates, it is possible that the solar radiation will increase ground-level ozone pollution as well, according to the media release.
Individuals with heart disease and respiratory sensitivities should reduce their level of exertion to decrease the amount of particulates they breathe into their lungs.
Particles can travel into the respiratory system and cause short-term health effects such as eye, nose, throat, and lung irritation, coughing, sneezing, runny nose and shortness of breath.
PDEQ monitors air pollution at 16 air quality monitoring sites in eastern Pima County. Up-to-the-hour air pollution levels are available in the air monitoring section of the PDEQ website.
