Short-term exposure to unhealthy levels of ozone pollution can cause breathing difficulty and more frequent asthma attacks, among other symptoms. Long-term exposure is linked to poor health outcomes, including lung and cardiovascular disease and premature death. The goal of Colorado's Congestion Mitigation & Air Quality Improvement Program (CMAQ) is to reduce ground-level ozone levels in the ozone nonattainment areas of Adams, Arapahoe, Boulder, Broomfield, Denver, Douglas, Jefferson, Larimer, and Weld Counties. According to CEJST, these non-attainment areas include many disadvantaged communities in Weld County, Denver, Aurora and Colorado Springs.
