The Bay Area Air District issued an air quality advisory for Tuesday and Wednesday as wildfire smoke from the Pacific Northwest is expected to drift into the region.
While the district said pollution levels are not expected to exceed the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s 24-hour health standard for fine particulate matter — which measures the average concentration of pollution over the course of a day — air quality could still become unhealthy at times as smoke conditions shift.
According to the district, residents might notice smoky skies, haze and the smell of smoke, but changing weather patterns make it tough to predict where smoke will settle at ground level.
Wildfire smoke holds fine particulate matter and other pollutants that can irritate the eyes and airways, cause coughing and worsen respiratory conditions like asthma, emphysema and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Older adults, children and people with respiratory illnesses are especially vulnerable to smoke exposure.
To reduce health risks, the district recommends that people stay inside with the windows and doors closed. If smoke becomes significant, setting air conditioning systems to recirculate or seeking buildings with filtered air, such as libraries or shopping malls, would be best.
The Bay Area Air District said it will continue to monitor air quality throughout the region, and encouraged residents to check the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Fire and Smoke Map for real-time air quality conditions in their area at https://fire.airnow.gov/.