Air pollution advisory issued across Southern California after July 4th fireworks
Independence Day celebrations are creating unhealthy conditions in the form of particle pollution, leading to some of the worst air quality of the year.
Due to the after-effects of July 4th fireworks, the South Coast Air Quality Management District has issued a special advisory for particle pollution that is leading to hazardous conditions in some areas on Friday, July 5.
The agency said that fireworks emissions from Independence Day celebrations often lead to the worst air-quality days of the entire year.
The advisory, which covers parts of Los Angeles, Orange, San Bernardino and Riverside counties, will be in effect until 11:59 p.m. Friday.
Some areas were experiencing air quality at the Moderate AQI (Air Quality Index) level at 9 a.m. Friday, including much of the South Bay and Orange County.
At that same time, the air quality in many areas of Los Angeles, the San Fernando Valley, the San Gabriel Valley and the Inland Empire ranged from Unhealthy AQI to Hazardous.
The worst area — experiencing Hazardous air quality — on Friday morning was the area surrounding Glendora and Azusa and parts of West Covina heading toward the mountains. Just outside of that area, including Pomona, Montclair, Claremont, Duarte and Arcadia, the air quality was measured as Very Unhealthy.
Air quality Friday morning was also Very Unhealthy in the eastern San Fernando Valley, Burbank and Glendale areas.
Most of LA, the rest of the San Gabriel Valley and the Inland Empire as far east as Redlands was experiencing air quality that was either Unhealthy, or Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups.
The particles emitted by fireworks, including “backyard” fireworks, include metal air pollutants, the AQMD said, causing even more hazardous conditions.
And “backyard” fireworks can lead to even higher levels of fine particulate matter in the neighborhoods where they were launched, leading to even worse air quality that is being measured by AQMD’s regional equipment, the agency said.
The fireworks particles add to the other particles in the Southern California basin from vehicles and industrial uses. In addition, high ozone levels unrelated to July 4th celebrations will decrease air quality — leading to the Very Unhealthy AQI level in the afternoon and evening.
The AQMD warns that people’s cardiovascular and respiratory health suffers when breathing in fine particulate matter. Negative health effects can include heart attacks, worsened asthma, decreased lung function, coughing and difficulty breathing and even “premature death” in those suffering from heart or lung disease.
The air-quality-monitoring agency recommends remaining indoors with doors and windows closed, avoiding vigorous physical activity, and running air conditioners and air purifiers.