As Colorado’s high ozone and air pollution days climb, so do health dangers

The Colorado Front Range violated Environmental Protection Agency air quality standards 40 days in the summer of 2024, continuing a trend of rising ozone levels over the past several years. The region is susceptible to high pollution due to a confluence of industry and vehicle emissions, geography, weather patterns and the effects of climate change. Climbing levels of toxic ozone – as well as the perennial threat of wildfires across the West – pose increasing public health risks of respiratory and cardiovascular disease.