Monterey Bay Air Resources District issues health advisory due to "hazardous" air quality

 As wildfires continue to rage throughout California, yet another air pollution control district has warned its residents to stay indoors and reduce activity levels.

Yesterday the Monterey Bay Air Resources District announced that its air monitoring devices at many locations in Monterey, San Benito, and Santa Cruz counties have reached hazardous levels. This poses a risk to everyone and especially to those with underlying conditions such as heart disease, asthma, COPD, the elderly, children, and others.

Photo Credit: Monterey Bay Air Resources District website

The District also warns that simple paper or dust masks,scarves, and bandanas will not provide protection against the very small particles known as PM2.5. N-95 or P-100 respirators may help, but, the best solution is to stay indoors if possible.

SJVAPCD issues health caution alert through the weekend due to smoky skies in the San Joaquin Valley

As most of you are painfully aware, the skies in many parts of California are filled with smoke from the numerous wildfires throughout the state. 

Photo Credit: CIRA/NOAA 

Smoke from those fires has severely impacted ambient air quality. As a result, the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District has re-issued a health caution due to the unhealthy levels of large particulate matter (PM) and PM2.5 (particles less than 2.5 microns in diameter).

The health caution will remain in effect until the fires are extinguished.

The District anticipates the air quality to be unhealthy throughout the weekend and has warned residents to stay indoors with all windows closed as a result. They also caution that the common cloth and paper masks worn by many to help reduce the transmission of the novel coronavirus may not be adequate protection from wildfire smoke.

Please exercise caution. Stay safe. Stay indoors.