Latest news with #BayAreaAirQualityManagementDistrict
San Francisco Chronicle
6 days ago
- Climate
- San Francisco Chronicle
Gifford Fire smoke expected in Bay Area, air quality advisory in effect
A Bay Area air quality advisory is in effect as health officials expect smoke from the Gifford Fire to move into the area Tuesday. Bay Area residents may see hazy skies and smell smoke, but the Bay Area Air Quality Management District said it does not expect pollution levels to exceed federal 24-hour health limits. Ground-level smoke intensity, however, is difficult to predict. The United States Environmental Protection Agency's real-time smoke map shows clean air quality scores for much of the area, including San Francisco and Oakland. San Pablo at Rumrill Boulevard and San Jose at Jackson Street showed moderate air quality levels that suggest 'unusually sensitive people' consider limiting time outside and heading indoors if they experience symptoms. The Gifford Fire, burning through the rugged backcountry of California's Central Coast, has grown into the state's largest wildfire of the year and has reached 'megafire' status. The fire had burned 125,648 acres and was 33% contained as of Tuesday afternoon. Even brief exposure to wildfire smoke and its pollutants can harm people, the air district said. Smoke can irritate the eyes, throat and sinuses. People with asthma, emphysema or Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease can begin to wheeze when exposed to high levels of wildfire pollutants.
San Francisco Chronicle
11-07-2025
- Climate
- San Francisco Chronicle
Bay Area air quality alert in effect through Friday: What to know
The Bay Area Air Quality Management District issued a Spare the Air alert late Thursday that was expected to last through Friday as wildfire smoke from a cluster of fires in far-Northern California continued filtering into the region. Air Quality Advisory: Smoke from the fires in N. Sac. Valley is expected to impact air quality in parts of the Bay Area on Thursday and Friday. Check and take steps to avoid exposure. Learn how at — Bay Area Air Quality (@AirDistrict) July 10, 2025 Air quality began to deteriorate Thursday afternoon, especially across the Tri-Valley, where temperatures surged into the 90s and sensors picked up moderate levels of wildfire smoke. Most of that smoke is from the Green Fire burning near Shasta Lake, which grew to over 5,000 acres by Thursday evening. Winds will stay light Thursday night and additional smoke will spread into the Santa Clara Valley and eastern Bay Area. The highest PM 2.5 concentrations — the fine particulate matter that poses the biggest health risk in wildfire smoke — will remain east of the Peninsula and Bay overnight. But elevated levels aloft may still provide the entire region a vivid sunset. Temperatures are expected to climb back into the mid- to upper 90s across inland valleys and the South Bay, and that daytime warming will increase vertical mixing. That could draw more smoke down to the surface, worsening air quality across parts of the East Bay, Santa Clara Valley and interior North Bay. Still, PM 2.5 levels across most of the Bay Area are forecast to stay below the ' unhealthy' threshold for the general public. Sensitive groups — including children, older adults, and those with asthma or heart conditions should take precautions Prolonged exposure to elevated levels of PM 2.5 can irritate the lungs, aggravate asthma, and increase the risk of cardiovascular problems, especially for those spending time outdoors or exercising. Some modest air quality improvements are likely by late Friday into Saturday as winds begin to shift, helping to push smoke from the Northern California fires eastward. Temperatures will cool slightly over the weekend, and a persistent onshore flow should keep the worst of the smoke away.
San Francisco Chronicle
01-06-2025
- Business
- San Francisco Chronicle
Flaring, smoke reported at Richmond Chevron refinery
Chevron's Richmond refinery flared again Saturday afternoon, the third time in May, sending a plume of smoke into the air. Chevron said on social media around 3 p.m. that it was working to stop the flaring, but that no emergency response was needed. The fuel company had acknowledged flaring just over a week earlier, on May 22, and alsor on May 5. The facility has an extended history of flaring. The Bay Area Air Quality Management District, which regulates air quality in the region, reached a settlement with Chevron and the PBF Energy-owned Martinez Refining Co. last year in which Chevron agreed to pay millions of dollars to the district's air quality fund, as well as $20 million more for alleged compliance violations at its refinery. Chevron and PBF Energy also agreed to drop their opposition to a new air district rule requiring the companies to lower their emissions. The city of Richmond also approved a $550 million settlement with Chevron last year in return for canceling a ballot measure that would have taxed the company's refinery.
Axios
23-04-2025
- Health
- Axios
San Francisco Bay Area ranks among worst metros for ozone pollution
The Bay Area is among the top 25 metros in the U.S. with the worst ozone pollution, according to the American Lung Association's 2025 State of the Air report. Why it matters: Inhaling smog has been compared to a "sunburn of the lungs," per the report, and may cause shortness of breath, coughing and reduced life expectancy. State of play: The San Jose-San Francisco-Oakland region ranked 14th in this year's report. Conditions have slightly improved from last year, when the metro area came in 12th. The findings, which predate the current Trump administration, come as the White House attempts to roll back EPA rules and regulations meant to curb pollution and promote cleaner air. What they're saying: "Clearly, we need to do more to control the pollutants that are impacting our changing climate and worsening the factors that go into the wildfires and the extreme heat events that are threatening our health, instead of thinking about how to roll them back," says Katherine Pruitt, senior director of nationwide clean air policy at the American Lung Association and report author. The big picture: Nearly half of Americans are now exposed to potentially dangerous levels of air pollution, per the report. Zoom in: Vehicles are the largest contributor to ozone pollution in the Bay Area, representing more than half of all ozone precursors in the region, according to the Bay Area Air Quality Management District. Wildfires in recent years have also led to poorer air quality across the state, per the California Air Resources Board. Three California metros — Los Angeles, Visalia and Bakersfield — lead as the top three areas in the new rankings. By the numbers: Just over 156 million Americans — 46% of the population — are living in areas with unhealthy levels of ozone or particle pollution, per the report. That's almost 25 million more compared with last year's report, and the highest number in the past decade of the report's history. Between the lines: Extreme heat, wildfires and drought are degrading air quality nationwide, the lung association says. All have been linked to climate change. How it works: The report uses local air quality data to grade and rank locations based on ozone pollution, daily particle pollution and annual particle pollution. This latest report includes data from 2021 to 2023, "the most recent three years of quality-assured nationwide air pollution data publicly available." Ozone is a gas that, at ground level, is a harmful irritant. Particle pollution involves tiny airborne particles from wildfires, fossil fuel burning and more.
