Ozone health watch issued Thursday for Phoenix - CBS 5 - KPHO

An ozone health watch has been issued Thursday for metropolitan Phoenix because pollution levels may exceed federal air-quality standards.

Experts say ozone can irritate the lungs and aggravate existing health conditions such as asthma.

Environmental regulators who issued the health watch said people who are unusually sensitive to air quality should consider limiting their time outdoors.

They also recommended that people avoid waiting in their cars at drive-thru restaurants, unplug electronic devices that aren't being used and fuel their cars after dark or during cooler evening hours.

Ozone is an invisible gas created when other pollutants in the air -- such as those created by combustion-- are heated by the sun.

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