Wildfires contribute to high air pollution days for Merced

Merced’s air quality has spiked to unhealthy levels for people facing lung or breathing problems, a change since last week that may be partially the result of wildfires burning to the west and south.

According to the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District, Sunday’s air quality reached the level considered “unhealthy for sensitive groups,” said Anthony Presto, outreach and communication representative for the Valley Air District.

Monday’s air quality was worse, almost reaching into “unhealthy” levels, prompting the Valley Air District to recommend that people exercise indoors and limit outdoor exposure to no more than 30 minutes.

Last week, air quality was consistently in the “good” and “moderate” levels.

“The spikes very well could be a result of wildfires,” Presto said. “Ozone levels wouldn’t be as high if it wasn’t for the wildfires.”

In Monterey County, the Soberanes fire broke out near Big Sur on Friday. By Tuesday, it had grown to more than 19,000 acres and destroyed at least 20 homes, according to the Cal Fire website.

Presto said the coastal fire has had a greater impact on the Central Valley than the Sand fire burning more than 37,000 acres near Santa Clarita, according to the County of Los Angeles Fire Department website.

Presto said air pollution levels are expected to be high for the remainder of the week and the conditions are dependent on the fire containment and weather patterns driving the pollution through the Central Valley.

When particle pollution from wildfires, such as smoke, dust and soot, mix with the ozone pollutants, Presto said, air quality worsens.

“It’s definitely quite a bit worse when we get both of these together,” Presto said. “It tends to happen in the summer during wildfires.”

Pollutants from wildfires are worse on the health scale, Presto said, because the particles that can be inhaled are so small they can enter the bloodstream, increasing the risk of heart attacks and strokes.

“The best thing to do is stay indoors where there is filtered air,” Presto said.

According to medical officials in Merced, air pollution definitely plays a roll in respiratory conditions and can trigger or worsen any lung disease.

Damage to lung airways, an increased risk of developing and worsening asthma can also be health problems associated with air pollution, according to the Mayo Clinic.

Presto said residents should monitor the air quality frequently on Real-Time Air Monitoring Station, especially during wildfires, to monitor when air quality is at its worst, usually in the afternoon between 1 and 6 p.m.

“We always urge residents in the valley to do whatever they can to reduce pollution,” Presto said.

This story was originally published July 26, 2016 at 5:06 PM with the headline "Wildfires contribute to high air pollution days for Merced."