Arizona Department of Environmental Quality issues dust High Pollution Advisory

Arizona Department of Environmental Quality has issued a dust High Pollution Advisory (HPA) for Friday, Oct. 20th for coarse particulate matter (PM10) in Yuma.

This HPA is issued due to particle pollutant levels expected to accumulate enough to exceed health standards.

People with heart or lung diseases, older adults and children are most likely affected by particle pollution.

Such particles are so small they are able to travel into the respiratory tract where they cause short-term health effected such as eye, nose, throat, and lung irritation, coughing, sneezing, runny nose and shortness of breath.

Exposure to these particles can also affect lung function and worsen medical conditions such as asthma and heart disease.

The Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) recommends the general public limit outdoor activity while the HPA is in effect, especially children and adults with respiratory problems.

During the HPA, ADEQ encourages residents and businesses to use the following tips and resources to help make the air healthier to breathe:

-Avoid or limit wood burning in residential fireplaces, chimineas, outdoor fire pits and similar outdoor fires (including at hotels and restaurants and individuals/businesses that have permits for open burning)

-Avoid using leaf blowers

-Avoid activities that generate dust, such as driving on dirt roads and using off-road vehicles

-Drive as little as possible, carpool, use public transit or telecommute