Thousands of people living across a swath of southern California have been urged to avoid grilling, burning incense and using gasoline-powered garden tools by the National Weather Service (NWS) amid a series of air quality alerts for fine particle pollution.
Why It Matters
The NWS warned that particles in wildfire smoke can “cause serious health problems such as heart attacks, strokes, asthma attacks, and difficulty breathing.”
These can impact anyone, but the young, old, pregnant and those with lung or heart disease are particularly at risk.
What To Know
On its website, the NWS said air quality alerts had been issued by the South Coast Air Quality Management District (AQMD), which regulates air pollution for a stretch of southern California including Orange County and parts of Los Angeles, Riverside and San Bernardino counties.
For the Santa Clarita Valley, including the settlements of Santa Clarita, Newhall and Valencia, the AQMD imposed an air quality alert applying from Friday afternoon through Sunday morning due to particles in wildfire smoke.
People living in this area who see or smell smoke are urged to “remain indoors with windows and doors closed,” “avoid intense outdoor physical activity” and run their air conditioners and/or air purifiers. Whole home fans and swamp coolers, which bring in air from outside, should be avoided unless there is no other means to keep cool.
If people have to be outdoors they should only do so briefly and waring a N-95 facemask. Other sources of pollution should be avoided including fires, candles, burning incense, grilling, and gasoline-powered garden equipment.
The South Coast AQMD has also issued an air quality alert “due to harmful levels of ozone (smog) pollution” for Santa Clarita Valley, Western San Fernando Valley, Eastern San Fernando Valley, Interstate 5 Corridor, Western San Gabriel Mountains and Highway 14 Corridor, Eastern San Gabriel Mountains and Los Angeles County San Gabriel Valley until 8 p.m. PT on Saturday.
Individuals in this area should “delay trips to the gas station and the use of household chemicals” and “limit the use” of gasoline-powered garden equipment.
Air quality levels should be monitored as needed. If the Air Quality Index (AQI) is “hazardous” (maroon) all people should avoid outdoor activity. If it is “very unhealthy” (purple) sensitive groups should avoid outdoor activity, whilst everyone should stay away from intense outdoor activity.
When the AQI is “unhealthy” (red), sensitive groups shouldn’t spend extended periods outside. If it is “unhealthy for sensitive groups,” (orange) they should limit outdoor activity.
An air quality alert over ozone pollution has also been issued by the South Coast AQMD until 8 p.m. ET covering San Bernardino and Riverside County Valleys, The Inland Empire, San Bernardino County Mountains, Riverside County Mountains, Coachella Valley and the San Gorgonio Pass near Banning. The same advice applies to these areas.
Separately, the Ventura County Air Pollution Control District has issued an air quality alert covering Ventura County until 12 p.m. ET on Saturday due to “increased particulate matter from wildfire smoke in Fillmore/Piru.”
The NWS warns exact pollution levels in this area could fluctuate significantly depending on wind conditions.
The children, the elderly and those with heart or respiratory conditions are urged to avoid strenuous activities. Those with heart or lung diseases should follow their doctors’ active.
What People Are Saying
AccuWeather meteorologist Brandon Buckingham told Newsweek previously: “Ozone is a secondary pollutant, meaning it’s not emitted directly from sources, but is formed through chemical reactions. These reactions require sunlight and higher temperatures, making warmer months more prone to ozone formation. When air is stagnant, pollutants don’t get dispersed, allowing ozone to build up to unhealthy levels.”
What Happens Next?
Hot weather is expected across much of the U.S. over the next few days, with NWS heat advisory notices in place for parts of Missouri, Kansas, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, California, Oregon and Washington.
The post Thousands Told To Stop Grilling, Burning Incense appeared first on Newsweek.
