News 12 at 6 o'clock / Friday, July 30, 2010

AUGUSTA---The extreme heat can create the perfect conditions for bad air quality, and that can affect your health. While the air quality wasn't bad today, officials say the heat can spell trouble not only for those who are asthmatic, but for those who just want to spend some time outside.

Construction sites and traffic are major pollutants, and they can help create a lot of smog. Twice this month, Augusta's air quality has exceeded acceptable ozone levels--once was earlier this week.
Today's air quality is normal, but it got slightly worse throughout the day, affecting those who have asthma and those suffering from asthma.

One in 10 kids in Georgia has asthma. Miguel McMillan is one of them.

"When I go outside and I have to take a deep breath before I can just start breathing normally, I know that it's going to be smoggy," Miguel said. "It's tough to breathe."

Dr. Donnie Donagan says that during the heat of summer, we have smog or ozone to worry about. "Even the healthiest individual should limit their time outside, especially when the ozone levels are high."
Doctors caution those with respiratory illnesses to take care of themselves and take their medication.

The Clean Air Act Campaign is encouraging people to help reduce pollution and its harmful effects by using their cars less. They are urging you to carpool, use public transportation, or walk or bike to your destination if it's not too far.