Understanding Air Quality

"Air quality" is a term being used a lot right now. I know I've used it a lot here on this blog. But...what exactly is air quality?

Here's the Google dictionary definition: "the degree to which the ambient air is pollution-free, assessed by measuring a number of indicators of pollution"

Now that we have defined air quality...let's talk about how it's measured. Air quality is measured on the Air Quality Index (AQI). The AQI is the basis and standard for measuring the quality of the air around us. This is the AQI category definition sheet from the EPA.

As of Friday morning, the South Sound is in the "Unhealthy" category, with further degradation to the "very unhealthy" category as the weekend goes on. Some isolated spots could reach "hazardous." The numbers (151-200, etc.) are a number to show the amount of particulate matter (PM 2.5) in the atmosphere. The higher the numbers, the more unhealthy the conditions.

So...right now everyone needs to stay inside to stay healthy and avoid health consequences from this bad air quality.

Take a look at this EPA article showing health effects of smoke: https://www.epa.gov/pm-pollution/how-smoke-fires-can-affect-your-health

If you want to check the air quality in our area on a mobile device, you can download the EPA AirNow app on the iOS App Store or Google Play Store. The app icon is below.

If you are on a computer, you can always check our state's air quality here: https://www.airnow.gov/state/?name=washington

Here's the current (10 AM Friday) map of air quality in Western Washington and Western Oregon.

The colors of the circles are the same as the colors on the AQI description previously shown. Puget Sound's air quality is unhealthy, with very unhealthy on the coast, and hazardous air quality in the Willamette Valley.

Here is Puyallup's air quality as of 9 AM. Unhealthy for all. For your own health, it is best to remain inside as much as you can.

The Air Quality Alert has been updated since last night. It is posted below.

The one thing I want everyone to pay attention to is where it says air quality could be "very unhealthy" through the weekend. This is a dangerous smoke situation and it will get worse through the next couple days. I will have data from forecast models in my daily update this evening.

I hope this blog helps you to understand air quality and AQI a bit better. If there's more you want to know, leave a comment!