Houston is ranked in the extreme classification, averaging about 50 high-ozone days per year. It is followed by cities in the severe class, such as New York, Chicago, and Los Angeles. Since 1980, the Baton Rouge area has met five of the six EPA air-quality standards that include carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, sulfur dioxide, lead, particulate matter, and ozone. Only ozone exceeds the EPA standards. Ozone is harmful to breathe when too much is in the air.
Immediate symptoms are runny nose, sore throat and irritated eyes.
Shortness of breath, coughing, and a burning sensation in your chest can occur. Overexposure can lead to a persistent cough, mucous production and possible increased susceptibility to infection. It can harm healthy athletes and asthma sufferers by causing some loss of lung function. People who exercise outdoors and people with respiratory problems are most affected by overexposure. Healthy older people and babies are at the same risk as healthy persons.