There are spots in Northern California right now that have the worst air quality in the world because of the wildfires that are still burning in the area.
According to @KTVU, this finding comes from the government readings of the Air Quality index as well as Purple Air, which is a private company that tracks air quality with portable monitors throughout the globe. So to our #Roommates in Northern California, we continue to pray for your health and safety as firefighters continue their efforts to put out the flames.
To put things into perspective, on Friday morning Purple Air’s map showed the Air Quality Index to be in the 500s in #Oroville, California, and 199 in Oakland. Compare that to the air quality in #Beijing, which has the reputation for the worst air quality in the world, having a reading of 93 on the same day.
“These numbers are incredibly high,” said Sam Atwood, spokesman for the South Coast Air Quality Management District in Los Angeles, a government agency that has partnered with Purple Air. “These are wildfire conditions.”
A reading of 200 or more is “very unhealthy” and a reading of 300 or more is “hazardous,” according to the Environmental Protection Agency.
But due to Purple Air’s air monitors being portable and not stationary, their numbers may be higher because they show the air quality in real time and government agencies use average air quality levels over several hours.
Still, using the government air quality site called AirNow.gov, the AQI in Northern California was still horrible. The readings in Yuba City, Sacramento and Chico – all near the heart of the Camp Fire – showed readings of more than 300 on Friday morning.
“Bottom line is, this is terrible,” Atwood said.
We’ll keep you updated on the firefighting efforts, #Roommates!
TSR STAFF: Christina C! @cdelafesh
