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Newsweek
09-07-2025
- Climate
- Newsweek
Millions Told Not To Grill, Barbecue
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Millions of people in California have been urged to avoid grilling on Wednesday amid concerns over high air pollution levels. The South Coast Air Quality Management District (AQMD) issued an air quality alert due to harmful levels of ozone pollution, covering major urban areas including Los Angeles, Burbank and Pasadena. An Ozone Action Day alert has also been issued in Colorado, covering the city of Denver. Downtown Los Angeles in 2019. The South Coast Air Quality Management District has issued an air quality alert due to harmful levels of ozone pollution on Wednesday. Downtown Los Angeles in 2019. The South Coast Air Quality Management District has issued an air quality alert due to harmful levels of ozone pollution on Wednesday. Chris Delmas/AFP via Getty Images Why It Matters The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) cautions that exposure to ozone may irritate the respiratory tract, cause airway inflammation, and aggravate existing conditions like asthma, emphysema, and chronic bronchitis. Vulnerable populations — such as older adults, children, and individuals with lung diseases — are at greater risk. What To Know In California, the AQMD — the air pollution control agency for Orange County and the urban portions of Los Angeles, Riverside and San Bernardino counties — issued an ozone advisory spanning most of its jurisdiction. It urged people in affected regions to avoid sources of pollution such as grilling, fireplaces, candles and incense. "Keep windows and doors closed; run your air conditioner and/or an air purifier; do not use whole house fans or swamp coolers that bring in outside air if you have other methods to stay cool," it said in a notice published by the NWS. "Limit the use of gasoline powered lawn and garden equipment until evening hours; try to delay trips to the gas station and the use of household chemicals until the evening." Ozone concentrations are forecast to remain lower in coastal regions, it added. This AQMD map shows the California areas affected by its ozone advisory. This AQMD map shows the California areas affected by its ozone advisory. South Coast AQMD In Colorado, an ozone action day alert is in effect for the Front Range Urban Corridor. Counties affected by the warning include Douglas, Jefferson, Denver, Arapahoe, Adams, Broomfield, Boulder, Larimer, and Weld. "Hot and dry weather on Wednesday may allow ozone to reach levels that are unhealthy for sensitive groups in the northern portions of the Front Range region," the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment said in a notice published by the NWS. "If possible, please help us reduce ozone pollution by limiting driving gas and diesel-powered vehicles until at least 4 p.m." The AQI measures air pollution on a scale from 0 to 301 and above. 0–50: Good. Air quality is satisfactory. Good. Air quality is satisfactory. 51–100: Moderate. Air quality is acceptable, with potential concerns for sensitive individuals. Moderate. Air quality is acceptable, with potential concerns for sensitive individuals. 101–150: Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups. Air quality may affect people with heart or lung disease, older adults, children and pregnant individuals. Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups. Air quality may affect people with heart or lung disease, older adults, children and pregnant individuals. 151–200: Unhealthy. Everyone may begin to experience health effects, and sensitive groups may see more serious effects. Unhealthy. Everyone may begin to experience health effects, and sensitive groups may see more serious effects. 201–300: Very Unhealthy. The risk of health effects is increased for everyone. Very Unhealthy. The risk of health effects is increased for everyone. 301 and above: Hazardous. The air quality requires a health warning of emergency conditions, and everyone is more likely to be affected. What People Are Saying AccuWeather meteorologist Brandon Buckingham told Newsweek previously: "Ozone is a secondary pollutant, meaning it's not emitted directly from sources, but is formed through chemical reactions. These reactions require sunlight and higher temperatures, making warmer months more prone to ozone formation. When air is stagnant, pollutants don't get dispersed, allowing ozone to build up to unhealthy levels." The AQMD wrote in a post on X, formerly Twitter, on Monday: "OZONE ADVISORY (Monday, July 7 - Thursday, July 10): elevated smog levels expected as high temperatures are predicted to persist through the week." What Happens Next The alert in California is set to remain in force until 8 p.m. local time on Thursday. The warning in Colorado is in force until 4 p.m. on Wednesday. Regular updates are issued by the NWS on its website.
Newsweek
03-07-2025
- Climate
- Newsweek
Thousands in California Told Not to Barbecue on July 4
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Thousands of Californians planning outdoor July 4 celebrations have been urged to avoid barbecuing because of a regional air quality alert in effect this weekend. The National Weather Service issued an alert for parts of Southern California, warning of "harmful" levels of fine particle pollution across Los Angeles County, Orange County and the Inland Empire. Why It Matters Authorities warn that particle pollution can penetrate deeply into the lungs and may lead to serious health issues, including heart attacks, bronchitis, asthma flare-ups and trouble breathing. While anyone can be affected, the risk is higher for vulnerable groups—such as individuals with heart or lung conditions, older adults, pregnant people, children and those who spend extended time outside. The downtown Los Angeles skyline with the snow-covered San Gabriel Mountains in the background on February 7, 2019. The downtown Los Angeles skyline with the snow-covered San Gabriel Mountains in the background on February 7, 2019. Chris Delmas/AFP via Getty Images What To Know The South Coast Air Quality Management District (AQMD) also issued a particle advisory because of the potential effects of fireworks on air quality. "Fireworks release high levels of particle pollution (PM2.5 and PM10) and air toxic metals, with July 4th and July 5th typically having among the highest particle pollution levels every year in the South Coast Air Basin," it said. "Personal 'backyard' fireworks may lead to localized spikes in particle pollution levels and may spark wildfires, which can be a major source of particle pollution," it added. "The smoke and combustion products from fireworks add to the particles already present in the Basin that are primarily caused by transportation and industrial emissions," the South Coast AQMD continued. Areas affected included major cities, such as Riverside, San Bernardino, Anaheim, Irvine, Santa Monica and Long Beach. South Coast AQMD said that on Friday, light winds combined with heightened emissions from fireworks after dusk were expected to raise pollution levels in the South Coast Air Basin. As a result, the Air Quality Index (AQI) could at times reach the hazardous range in much of Los Angeles and Orange counties as well as the Inland Empire. On Saturday, according to South Coast AQMD, particle pollution levels are expected to stay elevated into the morning, then decline during the day as winds help disperse the pollutants. The AQI may again occasionally reach the hazardous range, with inland areas likely experiencing these high levels for a longer duration than coastal regions. A map issued by the South Coast Air Quality Management District highlighting which areas could be affected by the alert. A map issued by the South Coast Air Quality Management District highlighting which areas could be affected by the alert. South Coast AQMD Residents in affected areas are advised to take steps to help keep indoor air clean when the outdoor air quality is poor—including keeping windows and doors closed and avoiding other sources of pollution, such as fireplaces, candles, incense, grilling and gasoline-powered lawn and garden equipment. The AQI measures air pollution on a scale from 0 to 301 and above. 0–50: Good. Air quality is satisfactory. 51–100: Moderate. Air quality is acceptable, with potential concerns for sensitive individuals. 101–150: Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups. Air quality may affect people with heart or lung disease, older adults, children and pregnant individuals. 151–200: Unhealthy. Everyone may begin to experience health effects, and sensitive groups may see more serious effects. Unhealthy. Everyone may begin to experience health effects, and sensitive groups may see more serious effects. 201–300: Very Unhealthy. The risk of health effects is increased for everyone. Very Unhealthy. The risk of health effects is increased for everyone. 301 and above: Hazardous. The air quality requires a health warning of emergency conditions, and everyone is more likely to be affected. What People Are Saying Jonathan Grigg, a professor of pediatric respiratory and environmental medicine at Queen Mary, University of London, previously told Newsweek that there are "very clear links" between inhaling particles and earlier death from both respiratory and cardiovascular diseases. He added: "There are vulnerable groups and classically they are children because they've got an extra issue to do with their lungs developing, whereas our lungs are not developing as adults." The South Coast Air Quality Management District wrote on X on Thursday: "#FIREWORKS PARTICLE POLLUTION ADVISORY (July 4-5): Poor air quality due to #IndependenceDay fireworks is likely this #FourthofJuly holiday. Personal 'backyard' fireworks also contribute to this air pollution and may lead to negative health effects." What Happens Next The National Weather Service said the air quality alerts were in effect from 5 p.m. on July 4 to 11:59 p.m. on July 5.
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
NFL owners vote to allow players to compete in flag football at 2028 L.A. Olympics
NFL team owners approved a resolution that will allow NFL players to compete in flag football at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games. (Chris Delmas / AFP / Getty Images) NFL team owners approved the participation of NFL players in the 2028 L.A. Olympic flag football competition at the league's owners meetings on Tuesday. The resolution permits NFL players currently under contract to try out for flag football, but limits only one player per NFL team to play for each national team participating in the Olympics. An exception was made for each NFL team's designated international player, who is allowed to play for his home country. Advertisement Read more: LA28 announces Dodger Stadium among new 2028 Olympic venues, lineup nearly complete Injury protections and salary cap credit will cover any players injured during flag football activities, and Olympic flag football teams must implement minimum standards for medical staff and field surfaces to be eligible to have NFL players on their rosters. Flag football is one of five new sports in the 2028 Olympics and will make its Olympic debut, along with squash. There are five players per team on the field and each team builds a 10-person roster. The U.S. men's national team has won five consecutive world championships. This is a developing story. The Times will have more soon on the NFL's vote. Get the best, most interesting and strangest stories of the day from the L.A. sports scene and beyond from our newsletter The Sports Report. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
