Air-quality warning in place for Pinal County

Arizona Department of Environmental Quality has issued an Ozone Health Watch for today and a Pollution Advisory for Thursday.

The Pinal County air-quality monitor in Maricopa has indicated a moderate amount of particulates in the air. The air monitor in Stanfield also measured at moderate.  Hidden Valley was the highest in this area of the county.

The air-quality index that measures levels of particulates and ozone indicates the measurements of 0 to 50 are “good” and 51-100 are “moderate.” Any measurements over 100 are increasingly unhealthy.

Maricopa’s air quality measured 52 today and is predicted to be 55 Thursday. At Stanfield, it was 70 today and predicted to be 75. Hidden Valley had a reading of 81 and is forecast for 85 tomorrow.

Thursday’s pollution advisory for the county indicates ozone will be 105 in some areas, unhealthy for sensitive groups.

“Favorable transport winds along with the above normal temperatures and abundant sunshine will lead to ozone levels that will exceed the health standard on Thursday,” ADEQ’s report states. “Anyone with respiratory and/or heart ailments should limit outdoor activities during the afternoon and early evening period Thursday.”

Continued strong high pressure may cause the pollution warning to resume Friday and possibly Saturday.