The Valley Air District has issued an Air Quality Alert for Merced County from Tuesday morning at 10:30AM through 11:00AM Thursday morning due to smoke from a local fire. Exposure to particle polluction can cause serious health problems; aggrevate lung disease, cause asthma attacks and acutre bronchitis and increase risk of respiratory infections. In people with heart disease, short-term exposure to particle pollution has been liked to heart attacks and arrhythmias accourding to the US Environmental Protection Agency. Children and elderly people are also more susceptible to consequences of high particulate levels. Stay indoors if possible. Avoid prolonged or strenuous outdoor physical activities to reduce the affect of unhealthy air. For current air quality conditions, go to fire.airnow.gov.