TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — An Air Pollution Precaution was issued Monday in Hillsborough County due to elevated Ozone levels, according to the Environmental Protection Commission of Hillsborough County.

The precaution is in effect immediately and will remain in effect until Wednesday, according to the notice.

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The air has not reached an unhealthy level but could cause problems for sensitive groups, according to the commission. There is still the potential for the air to reach an unhealthy level.

“Ozone is one of the US EPA Criteria Air Pollutants and has an established National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS) based on health criteria,” according to a news release. “Ground-level ozone is not emitted directly into the air but is created by chemical reactions between oxides of nitrogen (NOx) and volatile organic compounds (VOC).

“This happens when pollutants emitted by vehicles and industrial sources chemically react in the presence of sunlight,” the commission said in the release. “Ozone is most likely to reach unhealthy levels on hot sunny days in urban environments.”

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The air quality could create problems for children, elderly people, and anyone with lung diseases or asthma, according to the release. Those in sensitive groups are asked to consider limiting activities outdoors.

The commission said it would provide further updates if conditions worsened.

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