Unhealthy air quality predicted in Connecticut

Connecticut environmental officials are predicting unhealthy air quality for sensitive groups living in several counties.

The Department of Energy and Environmental Protection said elevated concentrations of ground-level ozone pollution are expected on Friday and Saturday in all of Fairfield, southern Litchfield, New Haven, Hartford and Tolland Counties.

DEEP officials said there's a hot and humid air mass predicted to move over the region. The combination of heat and surface winds will produce favorable conditions for elevated ozone levels. That increases the likelihood of respiratory symptoms and breathing problems in children and adults who are active outside, as well as people with respiratory disease, such as asthma.

Connecticut experienced 14 unhealthy air quality days in 2011.