Representatives with the Valley Air District say hot summer weather and idling cars in school parking lots may be partially to blame for a dangerous dive in air quality during back-to-school season.

Agency spokesman Anthony Presto says it’s always better for the parent to wait inside the school for their child.

“They'[re not only adding to o-zone pollution, but they’re also sending all of those raw emissions out into the parking lot, and the kids are just walking into that,” he said.

Presto says the agency has gotten close to issuing its first air alert, due in part to expected school-time driving and smoky conditions.

– Anthony Pollreisz