High dust advisory issued here for Sunday

The Arizona Department of Environmental Quality has issued a high dust pollution advisory for the Yuma area for Sunday, which recommends the general public limit outdoor activity, particularly children and adults with respiratory problems.

ADEQ said a strong cold front is forecast to come into the region later Sunday, with winds of 20 to 30 mph, and gusts faster than that.

“It’s the gusty postfrontal northwesterly winds that represent a classic blowing dust threat setup to Yuma,” according to an air quality forecast the agency issued Friday morning.

Levels of PM10 dust are expected to exceed the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency standard Sunday, but were projected to remain in the “good” range throughout today.

The dust particles are small enough to be inhaled and cause short-term symptoms like coughing and sneezing, shortness of breath, and irritation of the eyes, nose and throat. They can also affect lung function and worsen asthma, heart disease and other chronic illnesses.

Residents are being asked to consider extra measures to reduce dust pollution that day, including:

• Avoid or limit wood burning in residential fireplaces, chimineas, out-

door 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

Daily air quality forecasts are available for the Yuma area at http://www.azdeq.gov/environ/air/ozone/yumef.pdf.