The Bay Area Air District announced a Winter Spare the Air alert and a ban on wood burning is in effect beginning Wednesday and through the Thanksgiving holiday on Thursday.

On Tuesday, the district issued the alert saying smoke from increased wood burning, light winds and cold overnight temperatures is expected to cause elevated pollution levels. The alert is the first of the winter season.

"High pressure over Northern California will act like a lid, trapping smoke at ground level," district officials said in its statement . "Offshore winds may also transport air pollution from the Central Valley into the Bay Area."

Officials said wood smoke contains carcinogens such as particulate matter and carbon monoxide. Exposure to wood smoke has been linked to serious respiratory illnesses, in

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