Strong northwesterly winds are occurring in the San Joaquin Valley today, causing blowing dust and elevating PM10 concentrations in some areas. As a result, the District has issued an Air Quality Alert with the National Weather Service for San Joaquin, Stanislaus, Merced, Madera, Fresno, Kings, Tulare, and the Valley portion of Kern Counties. Impacted residents are advised to stay indoors to minimize exposure to particulate matter (PM) emissions.
Exposure to particulate pollution can trigger asthma attacks, aggravate chronic bronchitis, and increase the risk of heart attack, stroke and respiratory infections. Individuals with heart or lung disease should follow their doctors’ advice for dealing with episodes of PM exposure. Those with existing respiratory conditions, including COVID-19, young children and the elderly, are especially susceptible to the health effects from this form of pollution. Anyone experiencing poor air quality should move to a filtered, air-conditioned environment with windows closed.
To monitor PM10 levels in your area, visit www.airnow.gov or download the “EPA AirNow” app for android or iPhone. For more information, visit www.valleyair.org or call a District office in Fresno (559-230-6000), Modesto (209-557-6400) or Bakersfield (661-392-5500).
