Thousands of residents across a part of west-central Florida—including areas surrounding St. Petersburg—have been advised to stay inside as of Monday at 5.30 a.m. ET, because a pocket of fine particle pollution (PM2.5) has reached a level that is considered, by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), to be “unhealthy for sensitive groups,” according to the EPA’s AirNow map, which records and monitors the air quality across America in near-real time.
What Is Causing the Poor Air Quality in Florida?
Although the EPA has not established exactly what is causing the elevated levels of PM2.5 across this part of Florida, the particles can be generated by several different sources, including thick dust from unpaved roads or construction sites, heavy smoke from prescribed burning, wildfires, or smokestacks, and excessive emissions released from vehicles or power and industrial plants.
What Residents in Florida Should Do When the Air Quality Is Poor
When the EPA registers that the air quality across a particular region is “unhealthy for sensitive groups,” vulnerable people, such as those who suffer from existing heart or lung conditions (such as asthma), young children, the elderly, and outdoor workers, should take steps to limit their exposure to the polluted air. They should reduce the intensity and length of all outdoor activities and monitor local forecasts and updates from the EPA, as air quality conditions can change rapidly.
They should also try to keep the air inside, including in their homes, as clean as possible. They can do this by keeping windows and doors shut, avoiding burning candles, incense, and indoor fires, and using air purifiers or filters to keep clean air circulating…