Air quality hits ``Code Purple''

ATLANTA - The air quality in metro Atlanta has gone from bad to worse, reaching ``Code Purple&#39;&#39; for the first time in nearly two years. <br> <br> The state Environmental Protection Division said Thursday it upgraded the rating from ``Code Red&#39;&#39; to ``Code Purple&#39;&#39; at 9 p.m. Wednesday. The air quality returned to ``Code Red&#39;&#39; two hours later. <br> <br> Atlanta&#39;s air quality reached ``Code Red,&#39;&#39; or ``unhealthy,&#39;&#39; only three times last year, down from eleven in 2000. Last year, the red zone days were in mid-July and late August rather than in June. <br> <br> The city&#39;s last ``Code Purple,&#39;&#39; or ``very unhealthy,&#39;&#39; days were August 16 and 17, 2000. <br> <br> On high smog days, the air is bad for nearly everyone in the midafternoon and early evening hours -- especially those with respiratory problems such as asthma. <br> <br> A ``Code Orange&#39;&#39; alert -- indicating that air is unhealthy for sensitive groups -- is forecast for Thursday.