PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) -- Ozone is on the rise across the Portland area on Tuesday as the National Weather Service issued an Air Quality Advisory on Tuesday afternoon.

The increase in ozone and high heat came as air quality fell on Tuesday afternoon. High heat has sat over the Pacific Northwest over the last three days. Now, those dangerous temperatures are catching up with added pollutants.

Things like lawn mowers, cars, and businesses fill the Portland area skies with pollutants. The added heat in our area creates a chemical reaction with the oxygen molecules in the atmosphere. This reaction creates ozone near the surface, which is unhealthy to breathe.

The surface ozone is different from the ozone found in the stratosphere. Ozone is beneficial to humans and helps block the harmful rad

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