Air quality alert issued for Harris, Galveston, Brazoria counties Friday

An air quality alert has been issued for Harris, Galveston and Brazoria counties on Friday.

Ozone is vital for blocking UV rays in the upper atmosphere, but at ground level, it harms our air, health, and environment. It’s a pollutant—a gas formed when sunlight reacts with emissions from vehicles, factories, and chemicals.

As a byproduct of human activity, it’s not a natural part of the air we’re meant to breathe and shouldn’t accumulate down here. Unfortunately, it does, so if you’re sensitive to poor air quality, you should stay indoors.