Thousands in US told to ‘shut windows now’ as toxins fill the air,
Nearly a million Americans in the Southwest have been warned to keep their windows shut and stay indoors as levels of airborne toxic particles skyrocketed on Monday morning.
A massive plume of ‘hazardous’ air has engulfed a roughly 100-mile-wide stretch of California and Arizona, filling the air with dangerous pollution known as fine particulate matter, according to the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
These are microscopic particles of toxic compounds or heavy metals, often produced by factories and car exhaust, small enough to penetrate deep into the lungs. However, in the Southwest, large amounts of dust from the desert can also contribute to this.
The air pollution can cause inflammation, breathing difficulties and other health issues when inhaled. Days with severe hazardous air can worsen respiratory issues such as asthma and contribute to heart attacks and strokes that cause premature death.
Approximately 400,000 people live in the largest area of hazardous air, which includes Yuma, Arizona, home to more than 220,000 Americans, and California’s Imperial County, where about 180,000 people reside along the US southern border.
However, the National Weather Service (NWS) has also issued an air quality alert in California’s Coachella Valley, where more than 400,000 people live in Indio, Palm Springs, Cathedral City, Palm Desert, La Quinta and Coachella.
The hazardous air has been caused by windblown dust throughout the region over the last few days, with some of these gusts reaching 45 to 50mph.
NWS warned: ‘Everyone can be affected, but sensitive groups such as people with lung or heart disease, older adults, people who are pregnant, children, and those who spend a lot of time outdoors are at greater risk.’
More than 220,000 people live in the areas of California and Arizona the EPA has deemed ‘hazardous’ on Monday
Dust and polluted air flowing through Yuma County in Arizona (stock image)
Melissa Zaremba from NBC News 11 added on Sunday that strong westerly winds would be carrying this unhealthy dust into the region through Monday morning, noting that the heavy dust would affect both health and local travel.
‘Wind Advisories and Air Quality are issued for parts of Imperial County. Yuma County’s highest gusts are looking around 30mph,’ Zaremba said on social media.
Dust storms at the US-Mexico border are a common problem, and the EPA warned that air quality levels in the region had deteriorated to ‘hazardous’ levels, the worst rating for air quality measurements the agency gives.
Along with high levels of smaller particulate matter, known as PM2.5, the dust blowing through California and Arizona has also sent levels of larger particles, known as PM10, skyrocketing.
PM10 is a type of particulate matter made up of tiny solid particles or liquid droplets floating in the air that are less than ten micrometers in diameter, thinner than a human hair, but still noticeably larger than PM2.5.
While Yuma sits at the center of the air quality alert, the nearby city of Brawley, California, just 70 miles to the west, has reportedly seen air pollution levels jump up into extremely dangerous territory on Monday.
According to the air quality-tracking website IQAir, at least one monitor recorded an air quality index of 1,365, fueled mostly by PM10 filling the air over the city of 28,000 people.
Typically, air quality levels are only measured on a scale from 0 to 500: good (0–50) carries little risk, moderate (51–100) may affect sensitive individuals, unhealthy for sensitive groups (101–150) poses increased risk and unhealthy (151–200) impacts everyone, limiting outdoor activity.
A large zone in the Southwest has been affected by high winds carrying thick clouds of dust
In Brawley, California, air quality monitors recorded airborne pollution levels going off the charts on Monday
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When outdoor air quality reaches the 300 to 500 hazardous zone or surpasses that mark, the EPA warns that everyone should avoid all physical activity outside.
Along with their alert for the Coachella Valley, NWS recommended that anyone in the affected areas keep their windows and doors closed, run an air conditioner or air purifier and avoid using house fans or swamp coolers that pull in outside air.
‘Avoid other sources of pollution such as fireplaces, candles, incense, grilling, and gasoline-powered lawn and garden equipment,’ NWS added in a statement.
The alert in California is expected to last until 11.59pm local time Monday night.
Officials also advised Americans to carpool or telecommute to work if possible, reduce the number of trips they take outdoors, or use public transportation.
