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By Amanda Greenwood
Associate News Editor
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Thousands of residents in parts of California have been advised to remain indoors amid concerns over high air pollution levels, according to a map from AirNow.
As of 4 a.m. ET Tuesday, the map showed areas of fine particle (PM2.5) pollution in the "unhealthy" Air Quality Index (AQI) category around the town of Portola and Chester, along with parts of the Plumas National Forest and Sierra Valley.
When air quality reaches the "unhealthy" category, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) advises that sensitive groups—including young children, older adults and those with certain medical conditions—avoid long or intense outdoor activities and to consider rescheduling or moving activities indoors.
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The general population is advised to reduce long or intense activities, and to take more breaks during outdoor activities.
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What To Know
AirNow uses a standardized AQI category system to communicate air quality across the U.S., with a scale from 0 to 301 and above.
- 0—50 (Green): Good — air quality is satisfactory, and air pollution poses little or no risk.
- 51—100 (Yellow): Moderate — air quality is acceptable. However, there may be a risk for some people, particularly those who are unusually sensitive to air pollution.
- 101—150 (Orange): Unhealthy for sensitive groups — members of sensitive groups may experience health effects. The general public is less likely to be affected.
- 151—200 (Red): Unhealthy — some members of the general public may experience health effects; members of sensitive groups may experience more serious health effects.
- 201—300 (Purple): Very unhealthy — health alert. The risk of health effects is increased for everyone.
- 301 and higher (Maroon): Hazardous — health warning of emergency conditions. Everyone is more likely to be affected.
PM2.5 pollution is classified as tiny inhalable particles - 2.5 micrometers or less in size - which can get into the lungs and sometimes the bloodstream, triggering or exacerbating existing heart and lung conditions, such as asthma. It can also cause symptoms such as coughing and shortness of breath.
Common sources of PM2.5 include dust emitted from construction sites, smoke from wildfires, pollutants from power and industrial plants, and vehicle emissions.
What People Are Saying
The EPA said on its website: "Exposure to such particles can affect both your lungs and your heart. Numerous scientific studies have linked particle pollution exposure to a variety of problems, including: premature death in people with heart or lung disease; nonfatal heart attacks; irregular heartbeat; aggravated asthma; decreased lung function; increased respiratory symptoms, such as irritation of the airways, coughing or difficulty breathing.
"People with heart or lung diseases, children, older adults, minority populations, and low socioeconomic status populations are the most likely to be affected by particle pollution exposure, either because they are more sensitive or may have higher exposures."
What Happens Next
The EPA recommends that people in affected areas should continue to monitor the air quality through the AirNow website, which is updated throughout the day.
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