Unhealthy air quality in western Mass. for next two days

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) - You may be breathing heavier over the next couple days. Environmental officials are predicting heat-related unhealthy air quality for parts of New England over the next two days, including right here in Western Massachusetts.

This unhealthy air is being caused by warmer air and increased humidity.

To help reduce ozone levels, environmental officials urge people to use public transportation and avoid the use of small gasoline-powered engines. They also urge people to refrain from strenuous activity.

Exposure to elevated ozone levels can cause breathing problem, aggravate asthma and other lung diseases, and make people more susceptible to respiratory infection.

To see how long this heat and humidity will last, check out the latest 22News Storm Team Forecast .