High Pollution Advisory in Maricopa County extended through January 2, 2021

The Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) has issued a PM-2.5 High Pollution Advisory for Saturday, January 2, 2021.  A No Burn Day is in effect for January 1 & 2 for Maricopa County.

Restrictions

• Wood burning is restricted in Maricopa County. Wood burning in residential fireplaces, chimineas, outdoor fire pits and similar outdoor fires is prohibited. This includes individuals and businesses which have burn permits for open burning.
• Employees and contractors of government entities are prohibited from operating leaf blowers. Residents are encouraged to avoid leaf blowing during HPAs.
• Off-highway vehicles are prohibited from being used during the HPA.

Take Action

• Eliminate wood burning in fireplaces, stoves, chimineas and outdoor fire pits.
• Drive as little as possible: car pool, use public transit or telecommute. For information on transportation alternatives, visit www.ShareTheRide.com.
• Avoid using leaf blowers. Use a rake or broom to keep debris out of the road and away from storm drains, ditches, and streams.
• Reduce your time waiting in long drive-thru lines. For example, at coffee shops, fast-food restaurants or banks. Park your car and go inside.
• Fuel your vehicle after dark or during cooler evening hours.
• Use low-VOC (Volatile Organic Compounds) or water-based paints, stains, finishes and paint strippers.
• Delay big painting projects until high-pollution advisories have passed.
• Make sure containers of household cleaners, garage and yard chemicals and other solvents are sealed properly to prevent vapors from evaporating into the air.

Background
PM-10 stands for particulate matter measuring 10 microns or less. State and county agencies measure PM-10 and PM-2.5 which are extremely small solid particles and liquid droplets found circulating in the air. PM, or particulate matter, comes from either combustion (cars, industry, woodburning) or dust stirred up into the air. High levels of PM are typically created when the air is especially stagnant.
  
PM-2.5 stands for particulate matter measuring 2.5 microns or less. State and county agencies measure PM-10 and PM-2.5 which are extremely small solid particles and liquid droplets found circulating in the air. PM, or particulate matter, comes from either combustion (cars, industry, woodburning) or dust stirred up into the air. High levels of PM are typically created when the air is especially stagnant.
  
Ozone: Ground level ozone is formed by a chemical reaction that needs heat from sunlight, nitrogen oxides and volatile organic compounds [VOCs] to form. The months of April through September make up our Valley’s longer-than-normal "ozone season."
 
 "High Pollution Advisory" or "HPA" means the highest concentration of pollution may exceed the federal health standard. Active children, adults and people with lung disease such as asthma should reduce prolonged or heavy outdoor exertion. Maricopa County employers enlisted in the Travel Reduction Program are asked to activate their HPA plans on high pollution advisory days.