The explosion of lights and explosions from Fourth of July celebrations large and small left behind enough pollution to make the air unhealthy in parts of Los Angeles and Orange counties and the Inland Empire.
Fireworks emit high concentrations of particulate pollution and metallic air pollutants, according to the South Coast Air Quality Management District. These pollutants can have negative health effects, especially on vulnerable populations.
A person watches fireworks under the pier before the official Huntington Beach fireworks show on Thursday.
(Alan J. Schaben/Los Angeles Times)
Levels of fine particle pollution on July 4 and 5 are typically the highest of the year, district officials said. Research last year found that areas closer to cities generally have higher concentrations of pollutants, while areas further away have almost no pollutants.
Smoke and combustion from fireworks aren’t the only pollutants in the air, as residents of smoky Southern California know all too well. Already floating around are emissions from cars and refineries.
The South Coast AQMD issued an advisory Thursday, which is in effect until midnight Friday, listing areas with unhealthy air quality.
Areas that were “very unhealthy” Friday afternoon, according to the U.S. Air Quality Index, included Glendora, the San Gabriel Mountains, San Bernardino, Moreno Valley, Yucaipa, Redlands, Riverside and Lomaline Da. The Air Quality Index also details areas with unhealthy air quality.
As of Friday afternoon, communities in Los Angeles County with “unhealthy” air quality include:
- santa monica
- beverly hills
- Parts of Inglewood
- angels
- Glendale
- pasadena
- baybank
- west covina
- Arcadia
- Mountain
- Pomona
Rancho Santa Margarita is one of the few Orange County communities with “unhealthy” air quality.
Communities in the Inland Empire with “unhealthy” air quality include:
- chino hills
- ontario
- rancho cucamonga
- Fontana
- Santa Ana Mountains
- Lake Elsinore
When the air is unhealthy, experts recommend that people with heart or lung disease, older adults, children and teenagers reduce the risk of exposure by avoiding strenuous outdoor activities and limiting the time they spend outdoors.
If you plan to stay indoors, health experts recommend closing doors and windows and placing damp rags at the bottom of doors and windows to prevent outside air from entering.
Keep your enclosed home cool by running a fan or central air conditioner. If your HVAC system or window air conditioner has a fresh air option (i.e., it pulls in air from the outside), turn it off and close the air intake, or set the system to recirculate.
