When people think about Colorado, ‘air quality’ issues are usually not the first thing that comes to mind.

Read More: How Do I Improve Air Quality in My Colorado Home?

However, it’s a significant issue on both sides of the Continental Divide, with wildfires and industrial emissions affecting the health of residents statewide at different times of year.

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Why You Should Care About Colorado's Air Quality

Colorado air quality/smog
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Living in Colorado means being exposed to ozone and particulate pollutants. The more we are exposed to pollution the more we can see our friends and loved ones dealing with respiratory conditions like asthma or COPD. Air quality can increase the risk of cardiovascular issues, especially in children or elderly residents.

The more time Colorado residents spend outside, the more harmful pollutants could cause harm. This is discussed further by Fernando Holguin, MD, professor at the University of Colorado School of Medicine, during an episode of Health Science Radio which can be found here.

As we know, air quality affects far more than people. Colorado’s wildlife in locations like the Grand Mesa or the Uncompahgre National Forests can also suffer as ecosystems are harmed by pollution or damaged by wildfires such as the Bucktail Fire or Pine Gulch Fire.

Read More: Denver is Top 5 in the World for Worst Air Quality

Smog Days in Colorado

Smog in Colorado
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Staying safe on smog days can be as simple as taking a minute to look at Colorado's Air Quality Index (AQI) for your area. You can get regular updates for specific areas from the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment.

On days with poor air quality, you can limit time outside, or travel outside of the smog area to enjoy outdoor activities. If wildfires create poor air quality consider using an N95 mask to protect yourself from breathing in harmful air.

Indoors, focus on keeping windows closed when air quality outside is poor. HEPA filters can help keep the air cleaner throughout the house during periods of poor air quality. Avoid burning incense or candles to help keep the air inside as clean as possible.

Stay on top of air quality in Western Colorado with our station app. If there is an air quality alert, we can help with notifications providing more info.

UP NEXT: How To Protect Yourself From Poor Air Quality

Here are 10 ways to protect yourself from the smoke from nearby wildfires.

Gallery Credit: Kyle Matthews

The Good Life: The 10 Safest Places to Live in Colorado

Where are the safest places to live in the state of Colorado? The website Property Club has factored in population, crime rate, and the cost of housing to come up with the top ten safest places one could live in Colorado. Keep going to find out where some of the safest places are in the Centennial State.

Gallery Credit: Wesley Adams

LOOK: Colorado Cities Ranked

Lawnstarter's list of the 300 'Dirtiest Cities in America' ranks locations across the country based on factors like infrastructure, resident satisfaction, living conditions, and pollution. Scroll through the ten Colorado cities that made this year's dirty list in the gallery below.

Gallery Credit: Wesley Adams

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