Poor air quality from July 4th fireworks could stick around for days

First come the fireworks, then comes the thick blanket of smog. Air quality officials are once again issuing a particle advisory for SoCal this Independence Day, but our summer heatwave could mean our unhealthy air will stick around longer.

July 4th week is typically the worst of the year for air quality in the L.A. basin. The flashy shows leave behind dust, metal and soot that can be dangerous to your health. All of that will mix with an ozone advisory, which brings its own smog.

“You can pretty much guarantee we're going to be towards the upper end of what we see for ozone levels,” said Scott Epstein, who oversees air quality assessments for the South Coast Air Quality Management District, the agency that monitors our air quality. “And then on the fourth and fifth of July, most years, that's when we record the highest fine particle levels. It can be even higher than what you'd see around a wildfire.”

What to know about the advisory

The particle advisory for the L.A. basin begins Thursday evening through the early afternoon on Friday, according to AQMD.

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Epstein said the coast will clear up first, but particles from fireworks could stick around longer in inland areas. Pollution from the fireworks could taper off Friday afternoon, just in time for the smog levels to peak in the mid afternoon.

The National Weather Service warned of “dangerously hot conditions” through next week with temperatures between 100 and 110 degrees in some areas. According to Epstein, that heat worsens smog levels.

“Higher temperatures lead to more evaporation of the compounds that form smog and actually speed up the reactions that form it in the atmosphere. So typically we get the worst ozone levels on our hottest days,” he said.

Neighborhoods in Redlands, San Bernardino will see the poorest air quality from smog, but those in Santa Clarita, Riverside, and communities near the San Gabriel and San Bernardino mountains will also experience “unhealthy or higher levels” this weekend. AQMD said it will issue an update if smog levels remain high after Saturday.

To view current air quality in your neighborhood, visit aqmd.gov/AQImap.

What you can do

Air quality officials said people should leave doors and windows closed, limit outdoor activity for kids and sensitive individuals, run an air purifier if you have one, and wear a mask outside.

Sensitive groups such as older adults, and children or people that have pre-existing heart and lung issues need to be extra careful, according to AQMD officials.