The Signal

Air quality in SCV deemed unhealthy

- By Brennon Dixson Signal Staff Writer bdixson @signalscv.com 661-287-5575

Continuing this week’s trend, air quality in the Santa Clarita Valley is expected to be unhealthy for all individual­s in the SCV on Thursday, according to the South Coast Air Quality Management District.

Dr. Jeffrey Gunzenhaus­er, Los Angeles County’s interim health officer, advises people living or working in the Antelope Valley, East and West San Gabriel Valley, East and West San Fernando Valley, San Gabriel Mountains, Santa Clarita Valley and the Pomona area with heart disease, asthma or other respirator­y diseases to minimize outdoor activities.

Children who also have these and other sensitive conditions should stay indoors as much as possible and should not participat­e in outdoor physical activity at schools, camps or other recreation­al programs, said the news release from Gunzenhaus­er.

On Wednesday, the Air Quality Index, or AQI, was recorded at 210 AQI, a “very unhealthy” level, according to the Environmen­tal Protection Agency’s Air Now website, meaning “everyone may experience more serious health effects.”

The higher the AQI, the more polluted and hazardous it is to breathe during outdoor activities, the EPA website states. Thursday’s forecast is expected to remain unhealthy with an expected AQI of 161.

To look at the air quality map, go to the EPA website (airnow.gov) for a full list of air quality indexes across L.A. County and the state.

 ?? Jeff Zimmerman/For The Signal ?? A layer of smoke blankets the mountains and valleys in Neenach. Due to unhealthy air quality, Los Angeles County health experts caution Santa Clarita Valley residents to minimize any outdoor activities.
Jeff Zimmerman/For The Signal A layer of smoke blankets the mountains and valleys in Neenach. Due to unhealthy air quality, Los Angeles County health experts caution Santa Clarita Valley residents to minimize any outdoor activities.

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