Data released by the California Environmental Protection Agency appear to show Alpine, Warner Springs, and Borrego Springs as the San Diego cities with the highest levels of ozone pollution.
The culprit? Smog - most likely from vehicles, farms, and factories where chemicals often react to sunlight. Ozone exposure usually measures highest on warm and hot days in the afternoon.
The measurements were done by the California Air Resources Board in 2012 and 2013 for an average of 8-hours maximum.
The highest levels of ozone pollution for the State of California include the San Bernardino, Loma Linda, Redlands, Highland areas with an average of .068 parts per million on the scale. Warner Springs and Borrego Springs measured around .055.
Lung inflammation and irritation are some common symptoms that are caused by breathing in air with traces of smog. This could affect people who are usually outdoors during the day including school children. The map highlights asthma data which represents patients who visited the emergency room for asthma-related incidents.