Thousands of people in communities across parts of Georgia (including Dalton, Adrian, and Louisville) and Tennessee (including Chattanooga, Dunlap, and Tracy City) have been advised to stay indoors, after the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recorded that fine particle pollution (PM2.5) had reached “unhealthy” levels, as of January 22, 2026, at 2.45 a.m., according to the AirNow Map.
Why Does This Matter
When local air quality readings are classified as “unhealthy,” the EPA warns that everyone in the affected area might begin to experience certain health effects, ranging from coughing and eye, throat, and nose irritation to chest tightness and shortness of breath.
Members of sensitive groups, which include children, the elderly, and people with existing heart and lung health conditions, may experience more serious health effects.
What To Do When Air Is “Unhealthy”
When air quality reaches “unhealthy” levels, the EPA advises everyone in the affected area to take more breaks during outdoor activities, reduce activity intensity, and move longer or more strenuous activities indoors when possible, until the air quality improves.
Local health agencies, such as New York City’s Department of Health, recommend wearing a properly fitted respirator (such as an N95 or KN95) to help reduce exposure when someone must remain outdoors for extended periods.
Individuals in sensitive groups should be particularly cautious, as elevated PM2.5 levels can exacerbate or trigger heart and lung issues.
The EPA also advises checking real‑time conditions and forecasts to plan activities for when air quality is better, and to keep medications and asthma action plans current for those with respiratory conditions
How Air Pollution Affects Health
According to the EPA, fine particulate matter—known as PM2.5—consists of “fine inhalable particles, with diameters that are generally 2.5 micrometers and smaller.”
Because of their small size, PM2.5 can penetrate deep into the lungs and enter the bloodstream, which is why exposure to PM2.5 can trigger a range of health effects, including asthma, decreased lung function, and increased respiratory issues, and can contribute to serious outcomes for people with cardiovascular conditions.
What Causes ‘Unhealthy’ Air Quality
PM2.5 comes from multiple sources, including direct emissions and the formation of particles in the atmosphere from gases. According to the EPA, common sources of increased PM2.5 include power plants, industrial activities, vehicles, wood burning, and wildfires.
How the EPA Measures Air Quality
The EPA uses the Air Quality Index (AQI) to measure and report the air quality across America. The AQI uses a scale and six categories to establish the health concern levels, with the higher the AQI value, the greater the level of air pollution and the greater the health concern.
The categories are:
Good (0–50): Air quality is satisfactory, and air pollution poses little or no risk
Moderate (51–100): Air quality is acceptable; some pollutants may be a moderate health concern for a very small number of unusually sensitive people
Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups (101–150): Members of sensitive groups may experience health effects, but the general public is less likely to be affected
Unhealthy (151–200): Some members of the general public may experience health effects, and members of sensitive groups may experience more serious effects
Very Unhealthy (201–300): A health alert is issued as the risk of health effects is increased for everyone
Hazardous (301–500): A health warning of emergency conditions is issued as everyone is more likely to be affected.
Air quality concerns linger on Monday with moderate to unhealthy rounds of air quality for sensitive groups, especially, according to our weather team. See the full forecast here. The Sacramento Air Quality Management District has kept Monday in the “Stage 1 – No Burn Unless Exempt” category. That means in Sacramento County, it is illegal to operate a wood-burning device or light a fire unless you use an EPA-certified fireplace insert, stove or pellet stove, and it does not emit visible smoke. “By restricting burning, we’re able to stop the creation of more pollution, and hopefully, when weather conditions change a few days after that, then we’re able to allow burning again,” Emily Allshouse from the Sacramento Air Quality Management District said earlier this week.The annual Check Before You Burn season runs from Nov. 1 through the end of February.The county offers exemptions for certain households that rely on fireplaces as a primary source of heat, but these exemptions require annual application and approval before burning is allowed. How to check air quality where you liveKnowing how to check air quality conditions can help you make the best decisions to keep yourself and your family safe.”Everyone can protect themselves by kind of staying indoors as much as possible, maybe running an air purifier if you have one to help clean that air and keep the dirty air out by having windows closed, which this time of year, isn’t too much of an issue,” Rebecca Schmidt from UC Davis Public Health Sciences said earlier this week. Here are two tools that the KCRA 3 Weather Team uses and trusts.AirNow.govThis site is run by the Environmental Protection Agency.The EPA has sensors throughout Northern California that track both smoke pollution and ozone pollution. Live updates on those readings can be seen using AirNow’s interactive map. The site also provides a rough forecast of expected air quality conditions in specific areas.All of the reports are based on the Air Quality Index, also developed by the EPA.An AQI of 50 or lower represents “Good” quality air that is relatively free of pollutants. Once the AQI reaches 101, air pollution is at a level that is unhealthy for sensitive groups, including the very old, the very young and anyone with a respiratory or immune condition.An AQI above 300 is hazardous in the short and long term for everyone.If you want to check the air quality on the go, the AirNow app is a good, free resource.PurpleAir.comPurpleAir is a private company with its own network of air quality monitors purchased by users around the world. These sensors are specifically designed to track smoke pollution.The free interactive map page displays real-time AQI readings.See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel
Air quality concerns linger on Monday with moderate to unhealthy rounds of air quality for sensitive groups, especially, according to our weather team.
That means in Sacramento County, it is illegal to operate a wood-burning device or light a fire unless you use an EPA-certified fireplace insert, stove or pellet stove, and it does not emit visible smoke.
“By restricting burning, we’re able to stop the creation of more pollution, and hopefully, when weather conditions change a few days after that, then we’re able to allow burning again,” Emily Allshouse from the Sacramento Air Quality Management District said earlier this week.
The annual Check Before You Burn season runs from Nov. 1 through the end of February.
The county offers exemptions for certain households that rely on fireplaces as a primary source of heat, but these exemptions require annual application and approval before burning is allowed.
How to check air quality where you live
Knowing how to check air quality conditions can help you make the best decisions to keep yourself and your family safe.
“Everyone can protect themselves by kind of staying indoors as much as possible, maybe running an air purifier if you have one to help clean that air and keep the dirty air out by having windows closed, which this time of year, isn’t too much of an issue,” Rebecca Schmidt from UC Davis Public Health Sciences said earlier this week.
Here are two tools that the KCRA 3 Weather Team uses and trusts.
This site is run by the Environmental Protection Agency.
The EPA has sensors throughout Northern California that track both smoke pollution and ozone pollution. Live updates on those readings can be seen using AirNow’s interactive map. The site also provides a rough forecast of expected air quality conditions in specific areas.
All of the reports are based on the Air Quality Index, also developed by the EPA.
An AQI of 50 or lower represents “Good” quality air that is relatively free of pollutants. Once the AQI reaches 101, air pollution is at a level that is unhealthy for sensitive groups, including the very old, the very young and anyone with a respiratory or immune condition.
An AQI above 300 is hazardous in the short and long term for everyone.
If you want to check the air quality on the go, the AirNow app is a good, free resource.
PurpleAir is a private company with its own network of air quality monitors purchased by users around the world. These sensors are specifically designed to track smoke pollution.
The free interactive map page displays real-time AQI readings.
Elon Musk’s AI company, xAI, plans to spend $20 billion on a data center in Southaven, Mississippi
JACKSON, Miss. — Elon Musk’s artificial intelligence company xAI is set to spend $20 billion to build a data center in Southaven, Mississippi, Gov. Tate Reeves announced Thursday, calling it the largest private investment in the state’s history.
The data center, called MACROHARDRR, is being built in Mississippi’s DeSoto County near Memphis, Tennessee. It will be the company’s third data center in the greater Memphis area. xAI CFO Anthony Armstrong said the cluster of data centers will house “the world’s largest supercomputer” with 2 gigawatts of computing power.
The announcement comes as xAI faces scrutiny over its data center projects in the Memphis area. The NAACP and the Southern Environmental Law Center have raised concerns over air pollution generated by xAI’s supercomputer facility located near predominantly Black communities in Memphis.
A petition by the Safe and Sound Coalition, a Southaven group opposing xAI’s developments, calls for shutting down xAI’s operations in the area and has received more than 900 signatures as of Thursday afternoon.
xAI did not immediately respond when asked for comment about environmental concerns.
A fact sheet released by the Mississippi governor’s office said environmental responsibility is a “core commitment” for xAI.
During the announcement, Reeves personally thanked Musk. Reeves predicted the investment would bring hundreds of permanent jobs to the community, thousands of indirect subcontracting jobs, and tax revenue to support public services.
Under the incentives for data centers passed in 2024, the state will waive all sales, corporate income and franchise taxes on the xAI development. Saving sales taxes on the computing power that xAI is purchasing would likely be worth a substantial amount of money, but the Mississippi Development Authority did not immediately respond to The Associated Press’ questions about how much tax revenue Mississippi will give up.
DeSoto County and the city of Southaven have also agreed to allow substantially reduced property taxes.
xAI is expected to begin data center operations in Southaven next month.
North Carolinians are breathing the cleanest air in decades, according to new state data from the Department of Environmental Quality (NCDEQ).
The NCDEQ released its updated Air Quality Trends in North Carolina report on Friday. The report attributes the decline in air pollution emissions to efforts by state leaders, regulatory agencies, electric utilities, industry and the public to address air quality concerns over the last 50 years. The report said carbon monoxide and sulfur dioxide emissions in particular reached all-time lows in 2022, the latest year for which data is available from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
“Even as our population and economy continue to grow, North Carolina’s air quality keeps getting better and better,” said DEQ Secretary Reid Wilson. “By controlling air pollution, we are giving every North Carolinian a cleaner, healthier future.”
“Our air quality continues to improve thanks to tireless efforts by our dedicated staff, partners and a wide variety of stakeholders who have come together to implement sound environmental policies,” said Mike Abraczinskas, Director of the Division of Air Quality.
The report said statewide emissions of the air pollutants regulated under the federal Clean Air Act have also declined sharply from 1990 through 2022. Specifically, the report said emissions fell in the following categories:
95% for sulfur dioxide (SO2).
74% for carbon monoxide (CO).
71% for nitrogen oxides (NOx).
48% for fine particles (PM2.5).
67% for volatile organic compounds (VOCs).
The state said the measured concentrations of those pollutants have been below every federal health-based standard for more than a decade, with average concentrations of SO2 95% below the federal standard and nitrogen dioxide 89% below the standard. According to data from the state, CO, NOx and VOC emissions have declined by 81%, 72% and 85%, respectively, from 1990 through 2022, from those on-road sources of air pollution.
The state added it expects to see futher reductions from the transportation sector in the coming years due to increasing adoption of electric vehicles.
NCDEQ in their report state that cars, trucks and other vehicles on North Carolina roads emit far less pollution than older vehicles, which they said is attributed to improved engine and fuel standards and more advanced emissions controls.
More of the state’s power now comes from clean sources such as solar, wind and nuclear energy, and NCDEQ said the state’s transition away from coal for power generation has been a major driver of these changes.
The report also provided these additional findings:
The number of “Code Red” air quality days continues to be low. From 2015 through 2024, North Carolina recorded just two days of “Code Red or above for ozone in the state, compared to 84 such days from 2005 through 2014.
Visibility in national and state parks improved in the last three decades. In 2023, visitors could see as afar as 119 miles at the Great Smoke Mountains Natioanl Park during an average clear day, compared to just 54 miles in 1996.
Net greenhouse gas emissions from fossil fuel combustion have decreased by 38% from 2005 through 2020.
Combined emissions from federally designated Hazard Air Pollutatnts and state-designated Toxic Air Pollutatns fell by more than 108 million pounds between 1993 and 2022, an 82% drop.
The Bay Area Air District has issued Spare the Air alerts for this Wednesday and Thanksgiving Day, marking the region’s first winter bans on wood burning this season.
The alerts prohibit the use of all wood-burning devices, including fireplaces, wood stoves, pellet stoves, manufactured fire logs, and fire pits — both indoors and outdoors — as pollution levels are expected to rise.
The district officials say a combination of increased holiday wood burning, cold overnight temperatures, and light winds will trap smoke close to the ground. High pressure over Northern California will act like a lid, and offshore winds may push additional pollution from the Central Valley into the Bay Area.
The district warns that wood smoke contains carcinogens and fine particulate pollution similar to cigarette or wildfire smoke. These particles can worsen asthma, trigger heart attacks, and increase long-term cancer risk, especially for children, older adults, and people with respiratory conditions.
Homes that rely solely on a wood-burning device for heat may qualify for an exemption, but only if the device is an EPA-certified or pellet-fueled heater registered with the Air District. Open-hearth fireplaces no longer qualify. Natural gas, propane, and electric fireplaces are allowed during the alert.
Spare the Air Alerts for fine particle pollution can now be issued up to three days in advance. In San Francisco, the National Park Service is also banning recreational fires at Ocean Beach through February.
The Air District, which oversees air quality in the nine-county Bay Area, lowered its wood-burning threshold on Oct. 1, reducing the trigger for an alert from 35 to 25 micrograms per cubic meter of fine particulate matter. District officials say the stricter standard will help protect vulnerable residents by calling alerts earlier and more often.
Penalties for violating the Wood Burning Rule include a mandatory awareness class or a $100 ticket for first-time violations, and $500 fines for second offenses, with higher penalties for additional violations. Burning garbage, plastics, junk mail, or pallets is also prohibited.
Residents can check whether a Spare the Air Alert is in effect by visiting www.sparetheair.org, calling (877) 466-2876, signing up for text or email alerts, or downloading the Spare the Air mobile app.
There’s something invisible that can put us in an early grave. And I’m not talking about sentient AI, but something much more ubiquitous and real. While AI doomers predict the existential risk that artificial intelligence poses to humanity, air pollution—specifically, ultrafine particulate matter, PM 2.5—has been an efficient killer for decades. Many people don’t realize there are volumes of scientific evidence that link cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and brain damage to the growing list of bleak health consequences of bad air.
According to the World Health Organization, air pollution caused 4.2 million premature deaths worldwide in 2019. As Trump’s EPA continues to roll back standards and deregulate industries that cause air pollution, the burden of maintaining a safe breathing environment is increasingly falling on individuals. Luckily, there are some steps you can take.
Turning Back the Clock
PM 2.5, produced by wildfires, automobile exhaust, power plants, and industries like mining, enters the body through the nose and mouth through the simple act of breathing. Once inside the body, PM 2.5 can enter the bloodstream and the brain. Air pollution’s impact on public health and life expectancy isn’t novel. In 1970, 22 years after the deadly Donora Smog Event that killed 20 people and sickened over 6,000 in Western Pennsylvania, the Clean Air Act became federal law.
Earlier this year, the Trump administration repealed the Biden administration’s new standards for air pollutants from taconite iron ore processing, exempting private sectors from complying, saying, “Preserving and enhancing domestic taconite processing capabilities … ensuring [the] resilience of American industrial supply chains.”
Taconite iron ore processing creates a major amount of PM 2.5. Trump’s White House also repealed recent emissions standards for coal- and oil-fired electric utility steam, along with several other industries. As America’s commitment to limiting air pollution declines, there are appliances and actions you can take to keep the air you breathe healthier, both indoors and outside.
It Can Cause Heart Disease
Courtesy of Coway
When people think of high blood pressure, air pollution might not be what they envision. More often, stress, smoking, poor diet, or genetics might come to mind, but air pollution, PM 2.5, can cause and/or contribute to hypertension. NYU cardiologist Jonathan Newman, an expert on the link between the environment and cardiovascular disease, says that “in broad strokes, air pollution can affect cardiovascular risk factors, blood sugar/diabetes, blood pressure/hypertension.”
Invisible PM 2.5 reaches the deepest part of the lungs, entering the lung’s tiny air sacs, where it passes through the barrier to enter the bloodstream. There, it can build up into plaque on the arterial walls, known as atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. According to Newman, “Generally this occurs through direct effects of inflammation, neurohormonal effects, direct particle effects.” The interaction of PM 2.5 causes an imbalance with free radicals and antioxidants that puts stress on the body, causing inflammation and oxidative stress that leads to cell damage.
In other words, PM 2.5 can wreak havoc on the molecular level. The World Health Organization recommends that average annual concentrations not exceed 10 micrograms per cubic meter, with daily levels under 20 micrograms per cubic meter. Those guidelines are difficult to live by. A study found that “over 90 percent of the world population lives at PM 2.5 levels above World Health Organization standards.” The cheapest and easiest protection is to use a well-made N95 face mask. I carry an N95 mask with me at all times, as I cannot predict if a good-air day will turn into a bad-air night. The practice of carrying a just-in-case mask is one way to have agency over the air you breathe.
Photograph: Lisa Wood Shapiro
3M
Particulate Respirator N95
It Can Progress Diabetes
Newman was one of the coauthors of last year’s study that found that “air pollution exposure has been implicated in the onset and progression of diabetes. Increased exposure to fine particulate matter air pollution (PM 2.5) is associated with increases in blood glucose and all forms of diabetes.” The findings are not new; in studies going as far back as 1967, researchers have found a link between high levels of PM 2.5 in ambient air (outdoor air) and an increase in diabetes deaths. And while there are other contributors to diabetes such as obesity and genetics, there is a link between the inflammation caused by PM 2.5 and diabetes.
It Can Impair Brain Development
While respiratory disease has long been studied as a negative outcome of air pollution, recent studies show that it also impacts the nervous system and brain development, linking PM 2.5 with stroke, changes in cognitive function, dementia, and psychiatric disorders. In particular, that fine and ultrafine particulate matter has an outsized impact, as it can be absorbed into the bloodstream to reach the central nervous system.
And how does this happen? One possible and terrifying way is through the olfactory nerve, the shortest nerve in your body, which enables us to smell. It goes from your brain to the upper inside part of your nose. To understand how something tiny like PM 2.5 can cause inflammation, a 2022 study reiterated, “PM 2.5 can pass through the lung-gas-blood barrier and the ‘gut-microbial-brain’ axis to cause systemic oxidative stress and inflammation, or directly enter brain tissue via the olfactory nerve.” That PM 2.5 accumulates and results in oxidative stress (the free radicals and antioxidants have an imbalance), where it can “cause systemic inflammation and brain tissue damage.”
DETROIT — Making electric vehicles and their batteries is a dirty process that uses a lot of energy. But a new study says that EVs quickly make up for that with less overall emissions through two years of use than a gas-powered vehicle.
The study also estimated that gas-powered vehicles cause at least twice as much environmental damage over their lifetimes as EVs, and said the benefits of EVs can be expected to increase in coming decades as clean sources of power, such as solar and wind, are brought onto the grid.
The work by researchers from Northern Arizona University and Duke University, published Wednesday in the journal PLOS Climate, offers insight into a transportation sector that makes up a big part of U.S. emissions. It also comes as some EV skeptics have raised concerns about whether the environmental impact of battery production, including mining, makes it worthwhile to switch to electric.
“While there is a bigger carbon footprint in the very short term because of the manufacturing process in creating the batteries for electric vehicles, very quickly you come out ahead in CO2 emissions by year three and then for all of the rest of the vehicle lifetime, you’re far ahead and so cumulatively much lower carbon footprint,” said Drew Shindell, an earth science professor at Duke University and study co-author.
The researchers evaluated several harmful air pollutants monitored by the Environmental Protection Agency, as well as emissions data, to compare the relative impact over time of EVs and internal combustion engines on air quality and climate change.
Their analysis said that EVs produce 30% higher carbon dioxide emissions than gasoline vehicles in their first two years. That can be attributed to the energy-intensive production and manufacturing processes involved in mining lithium for EV batteries.
They also sought to account for how the U.S. energy system might develop in coming years, assuming growth in clean energy. And they modeled four different scenarios for EV adoption, ranging from the lowest — a 31% share of vehicle sales — to the highest, 75% of sales, by 2050. (EV sales accounted for about 8% of new vehicle sales in the U.S. in 2024.)
The researchers said the average of those four models found that for each additional kilowatt hour of lithium-ion battery output, carbon dioxide emissions drop by an average of 220 kilograms (485 pounds) in 2030, and another 127 kilograms (280 pounds) in 2050.
The consistent decrease in CO2 emissions from EVs is “not only driven by the on-road vehicles, but also reduction that has been brought due to electricity production,” said lead author Pankaj Sadavarte, a postdoctoral researcher at Northern Arizona University.
Greg Keoleian, a University of Michigan professor of sustainable systems who wasn’t involved in the research, called it a “valuable study” that echoes other findings and “confirms the environmental and economic benefits” of EVs.
“Accelerating the adoption of battery electric vehicles is a key strategy for decarbonizing the transportation sector which will reduce future damages and costs of climate change,” he said.
Shindell, the Duke researcher, said the grid will evolve to have more solar and wind power.
“When you add a bunch of electric vehicles, nobody’s going to build new coal-fired power plants to run these things because coal is really expensive compared to renewables,” he said. “So the grid just overall becomes much cleaner in both the terms of carbon emissions for climate change, and for air pollution.”
“The great news is the rest of the world isn’t slowing down in terms of its embrace of this technology,” said Ellen Kennedy, principal for carbon-free transportation at RMI, a clean energy nonprofit. As for the U.S., she said, “I think it’s important to keep in mind states and local governments, there’s a lot that’s happening on those fronts.”
One thing the study didn’t address was recycling or disposal of batteries at the end of their life. Kennedy said battery recycling will improve, helping to address one of the environmental impacts of their production.
The study comes at a notable time given the challenges that EVs face in the U.S.
EVs have seen more interest in recent years as an alternative to gas-powered cars and trucks — particularly as they become more affordable and charging infrastructure becomes more available.
But growth has slowed amid shifting federal policy toward EVs and an industry step back from ambitious EV production promises.
“The study is important to show how really misguided the current administration’s policies are,” Shindell said. “If we want to protect us from climate change and from the very clear and local damage from poor air quality, this is a really clear way to do it: Incentivize the switch from internal combustion engines to EVs.”
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Alexa St. John is an Associated Press climate reporter. Follow her on X: @alexa_stjohn. Reach her at ast.john@ap.org.
The Associated Press’ climate and environmental coverage receives financial support from multiple private foundations. AP is solely responsible for all content. Find AP’s standards for working with philanthropies, a list of supporters and funded coverage areas at AP.org.
The Ultrahuman Home is a futuristic-looking home environment monitor that tracks air quality, light, sound, and temperature. All this data flows into the Ultrahuman app on your phone, offering potential insights into your environment and suggestions on how you could make it healthier. Sadly, this mostly amounts to reminders to crack a window open, because most of the touted features are not yet present and correct, despite the rather hefty $550 price.
Ultrahuman made its name with a subscription-free smart ring that made biohacking more affordable (though it may soon be banned in the US due to a lawsuit from Oura). The Home monitor may seem like a strange sidestep, but if you’re going to hack your body, why not your environment? After all, we know air quality, light and sound exposure, and temperature and humidity can impact our sleep and general health.
Setup and Tracking
Photograph: Simon Hill
Taking a leaf from Apple’s playbook, the Ultrahuman Home is a 4.7-inch anodized aluminum block with rounded corners (it looks like a Mac Mini). There’s an Ultrahuman logo and light sensor on top, a power button and LED on the front, and a USB-C port on the back flanked by privacy switches to turn off the microphone or connectivity (Wi-Fi and Bluetooth).
Setup is super simple: Plug it in and add it via the Ultrahuman app. The Home gets its own tab at the bottom of the Ultrahuman app, alongside the ring, and if you tap on it, you’ll get a score out of 100, indicating how healthy your environment is. Scroll down for a breakdown of the four scores that combine to create your overall Home score (air quality, environmental comfort, light exposure, and UV exposure).
Ultrahuman via Simon Hill
Ultrahuman via Simon Hill
To compile all this data, the Ultrahuman Home is packed with sensors:
Air quality sensors to track things like volatile organic compounds (VOCs), typically released by cleaning fluids, and carbon dioxide levels (CO₂) that might indicate poor ventilation. They also watch out for formaldehyde (HCHO), carbon monoxide (CO), and smoke.
Particulate matter sensors to track tiny particles in the air, including things like dust, pollen, mold spores, and particles released by cooking. Covering PM1.0, PM2.5, and PM10 (the number refers to the size in microns), the Home warns if you’re in danger of breathing these particles in.
Temperature and humidity sensors to track how warm or cool it is and how much moisture is in the air. You get a chart of the temperature in your environment and the humidity level.
Light sensors to track the level of light and also its makeup, including the amount of blue light and ultraviolet (UV) exposure.
Microphones to track the noise levels in your environment, showing noise in decibels in a chart.
Ultrahuman via Simon Hill
The data is all easy to access and read in the app. You get notifications throughout the day, including alerts if VOC levels spike or there’s prolonged noise. I set the Home up in my office for a few weeks and then tried it for another couple of weeks in my bedroom, after I moved houses. This raises the issue of where to put it, because it must be plugged in and isn’t really designed to be moved around. The bedroom seems like the best bet, but you ideally want both, though I can’t imagine springing for two or more of these to cover all your bases.
Oversensitive and Alarming
Photograph: Simon Hill
The idea of combining body and environment tracking data seems smart, but the Ultrahuman Home doesn’t really do it yet. The touted UltraSync with the Ultrahuman Ring Air is limited to basic common sense advice for now. I don’t think anyone really needs a box to tell them they will sleep better in the dark and quiet, and the air quality advice mostly amounts to opening a window for better ventilation.
PORTLAND, Ore. — Hazy conditions thanks to lingering wildfire smoke are likely to remain in place until at least some time Wednesday according to The National Weather Service in Portland.
They say an easterly wind flow has been in place for the weekend and much of the early part of this week. It has brought wildfire smoke from east of the Cascades into the Portland Metro and Western Washington.
The good news for the Willamette Valley is they do expect the easterly winds to shift to an on-shore flow perhaps sometime on Wednesday into Thursday. Warmer temperatures will likely remain in place, but AQI readings in the 70’s, 80’s and 90’s should dissipate.
Precipitation is forecast for Sunday into next week.
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — California Gov. Gavin Newsom on Friday extended a signature state program aimed at reducing planet-warming emissions through 2045, a move Democrats cheered but Republicans warned would raise gas prices.
The program known as cap and trade sets a declining limit on total greenhouse gas emissions in the state from major polluters. Companies must reduce their emissions, buy allowances from the state or other businesses, or fund projects aimed at offsetting their pollution. Money the state receives from the sales funds climate-change mitigation, affordable housing and transportation projects, as well as utility bill credits for Californians.
It was set to expire after 2030. The law Newsom signed Friday at the Morrison Planetarium in San Francisco potentially boosts carbon-removal projects and requires the program to align with California’s target of achieving so-called carbon neutrality by 2045. That means the state will remove as many carbon emissions as it releases. The law changes the name to “cap and invest” to emphasize that the money goes toward other programs.
“We’re doubling down on our best tool to combat Trump’s assaults on clean air — Cap-and-Invest — by making polluters pay for projects that support our most impacted communities,” Newsom, a Democrat, said in a statement.
Newsom also signed a law committing $1 billion in program revenue for the state’s long-delayed high-speed rail project, $800 million for an affordable housing program, $250 million for community air protection programs and $1 billion for the Legislature to decide on annually.
He approved other measures aimed at advancing the state’s energy transition and lowering costs for Californians. They include laws to speed up permitting for oil production in Kern County, refill a fund that covers the cost of wildfire damage when utility equipment sparks a blaze and allow the state’s grid operator to partner with a regional group to manage power markets in western states.
Newsom also signed a bill that would increase requirements for air monitoring in areas overburdened by pollution and codify a bureau within the Justice Department created in 2018 to protect communities from environmental injustices.
California has some of the highest utility and gas prices in the country. Officials face increased pressure to stabilize the cost and supply of fuel amid the planned closures of two oil refineries that make up roughly 18% of the state’s refining capacity, according to energy regulators.
Environmental justice advocates said the cap-and-trade extension doesn’t go far enough to address air pollution affecting low-income Californians and communities of color more likely to live near major polluters. The program’s “cap” applies to planet-warming emissions, not other pollutants impacting air quality. Cap and trade doesn’t set emissions limits for individual facilities, meaning an industrial polluter could continue to emit the same amount of greenhouse gases over time so long as it has the right amount of credits or offsets.
Other critics of the cap-and-trade extension are worried about it raising costs. The program has increased gas costs by about 26 cents per gallon, according to a February report from the Independent Emissions Market Advisory Committee, a group of experts that analyzes the program. It has played “a very small role” in increasing electricity prices because the state’s grid isn’t very carbon intensive, the report says.
“I said it in June and I’ll say it again: legislative Democrats live in ‘Bizarro World,’” Republican state Sen. Tony Strickland said in a statement. “Their idea of tackling affordability is extending the Cap-and-Trade program, a hidden tax that drives up costs on everything from gas to groceries. That’s not climate leadership. I call it economic sabotage.”
But Democratic Assemblymember Jacqui Irwin, who wrote the reauthorization bill, said it will help the state fight climate change because “the cost of inaction is immeasurable.” She referenced the devastating wildfire that ripped through Pacific Palisades in her district in January.
Daniel Barad, the western states acting co-director for the Union of Concerned Scientists, said last week that the extension comes at a key time.
“The most important thing is it extends it to 2045, which was the most critical thing that the state could have done, especially in the face of federal rollbacks and attacks on California’s authority to enforce our lifesaving regulations,” he said.
Wildfire smoke that moved into Central Indiana is creating hazy skies and unhealthy air quality for Sept. 17. The Indianapolis Office of Sustainability issued its fifth Knozone Action Day of the year because of the situation, and National Weather Service (NWS) Indianapolis said there’s a hazardous weather outlook for Central Indiana.
The rest of this week will go from “very warm” to hot and dry, with a marginal fire weather hazard.
An elevated fire weather threat is expected to last through at least Sept. 19.
There’s a 30% chance for showers with a few thunderstorms this weekend going into next Tuesday.
Earlier this month, smoke from wildfires in the Pacific Northwest moved into Central Indiana, resulting in hazy skies, but the smoke at that time wasn’t strong enough to impact air quality.
Last week, meteorologists announced an onset of rapid drought risk across the country, with Central Indiana seeing a 70-80% risk from Sept. 17-23. An onset of rapid drought is caused by extremely dry conditions due to a lack of rainfall. Dry conditions are enhanced by longer periods of lack of rain and lower humidity.
Indianapolis weekly weather forecast
Wednesday: Sunshine to start, then a few afternoon clouds. Very warm. High 88F. Winds light and variable.
Wednesday night: Generally clear skies. Low 62F. Winds light and variable.
Thursday: Except for a few afternoon clouds, mainly sunny. High 89F. Winds light and variable.
Friday: Sunny, along with a few afternoon clouds. High 89F. Winds light and variable.
Friday night: A few clouds. Low 63F. Winds light and variable.
Saturday: Sunshine and clouds mixed. High around 85F. Winds SE at 5 to 10 mph.
Saturday night: A few clouds. Low 64F. Winds light and variable.
Forecast information for the 12-24 hour forecast for Sept. 17. Graphic displays temperatures, precipitation chances, wind direction, and wind speeds.
Sunday: Partly to mostly cloudy. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High 81F. Winds SSW at 10 to 15 mph.
Sunday night: Partly cloudy skies early will give way to occasional showers later during the night. Low near 65F. Winds S at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 50%.
Monday: Overcast. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High 76F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph.
Monday night: Considerable cloudiness. Low 64F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph.
Tuesday: Intervals of clouds and sunshine. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High 78F. Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph.
Tuesday night: Partly cloudy skies. Low 61F. Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph.
What is a Knozone Action Day?
Knozone Action Days happen when levels of certain pollutants rise above acceptable thresholds. During Knozone Action Days, the air quality may become unhealthy for sensitive individuals due to increased ground-level ozone and/or fine particles, two of the most common pollutants in the United States.While the ozone layer high in the atmosphere helps protect us from the sun’s rays, ozone down where we breathe is dangerous for public health, according to the Office of Sustainability.
Ground-level ozone is created when a chemical reaction occurs between sunlight and hydrocarbons from emission sources common in urban areas, like gas-powered vehicles and lawn mowers.
Fine particulate matter(or PM2.5) refers to microscopic particles in the air, including dust and smoke, that we can inhale into our lungs and cause damage. This can even be caused by wildfires or dust clouds blowing from thousands of miles away.
Sign up for text or email alerts for Knozone Action Days
People can sign up at smogwatch.in.gov to be notified of unhealthy air days early.
Knozone.com and the Environmental Protection Agency’s AirNow website and mobile app are other resources for monitoring local air.
Jade Jackson is a public safety reporter for the Indianapolis Star. You can email her at Jade.Jackson@IndyStar.com and follow her on X, formerly Twitter @IAMJADEJACKSON.
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — California will extend a key climate program under a bill state lawmakers passed Saturday, sending the measure to Gov. Gavin Newsom, who has championed it as a crucial tool to respond to the Trump administration’s environmental rollbacks.
The Democrat-dominated Legislature voted to reauthorize the state’s cap-and-trade program, which is set to expire after 2030. Then-Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, a Republican, signed a law authorizing the program in 2006, and it launched in 2013.
The program sets a declining limit on total planet-warming emissions in the state from major polluters. Companies must reduce their emissions, buy allowances from the state or other businesses, or fund projects aimed at offsetting their emissions. Money the state receives from the sales funds climate-change mitigation, affordable housing and transportation projects, as well as utility bill credits for Californians.
Newsom, a Democrat, and legislative leaders, who said months ago they would prioritize reauthorizing the program, almost ran out of time to introduce the proposal before the statehouse wraps for the year.
“After months of hard work with the Legislature, we have agreed to historic reforms that will save money on your electric bills, stabilize gas supply, and slash toxic air pollution — all while fast-tracking California’s transition to a clean, green job-creating economy,” Newsom said after striking the deal this week.
The proposal would reauthorize the program through 2045, better align the declining cap on emissions with the state’s climate targets and potentially boost carbon-removal projects. It would also change the name to “cap and invest” to emphasize its funding of climate programs.
The Legislature approved another bill committing annual funding from the program’s revenues. It includes $1 billion for the state’s long-delayed high-speed rail project, $800 million for an affordable housing program, $250 million for community air protection programs and $1 billion for the Legislature to decide on annually.
The votes come as officials contend with balancing the state’s ambitious climate goals and the cost of living. California has some of the highest utility and gas prices in the country. Officials face increased pressure to stabilize the cost and supply of fuel amid the planned closures of two oil refineries that make up roughly 18% of the state’s refining capacity, according to energy regulators.
Proponents of the extension say it will give companies certainty over the program’s future. The state lost out on $3.6 billion in revenues over the past year and a half, largely due to uncertainty, according to a report from Clean and Prosperous California, a group of economists and lawyers supporting the program. Some environmentalists say the Trump administration’s attacks on climate programs, including the state’s first-in-the-nation ban on the sale of new gas-powered cars by 2035, added urgency to the reauthorization effort.
Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas said the extension balanced the state’s ambitious emission-reduction and affordability goals. The Democrat called cap and trade “the cornerstone of our climate strategy.”
But environmental justice advocates opposing the proposal say it doesn’t go far enough and lacks strong air quality protections for low-income Californians and communities of color more likely to live near major polluters.
“This really continues to allow big oil to reduce their emissions on paper instead of in real life,” said Asha Sharma, state policy manager at the Leadership Counsel for Justice and Accountability.
GOP lawmakers criticized the program, saying it would make living in California more expensive.
“Cap and trade has become cap and tax,” said James Gallagher, the Assembly Republican minority leader. “It’s going to raise everybody’s costs.”
Cap and trade has increased gas costs by about 26 cents per gallon, according to a February report from the Independent Emissions Market Advisory Committee, a group of experts that analyzes the program. It has played “a very small role” in increasing electricity prices because the state’s grid isn’t very carbon intensive, the report says.
Lawmakers and lobbyists criticized the governor and legislative leaders for rushing the deal through with little public input.
Ben Golombek, executive vice president of the California Chamber of Commerce, said at a hearing this week that the Legislature should have taken more time “to do this right.”
Democratic state Sen. Caroline Menjivar said it shouldn’t be par for the course for lawmakers to jam through bills without the opportunity for amendments.
“We’re expected to vote on it,” she said of Democrats. “If not, you’re seen to not be part of the team or not want to be a team player.”
Menjivar ultimately voted to advance the bill out of committee.
The cap-and-trade bills are part of a sweeping package lawmakers approved aimed at advancing the state’s energy transition and lowering costs for Californians.
One of the bills would speed up permitting for oil production in Kern County, which proponents have hailed as a necessary response to planned refinery closures and critics have blasted as a threat to air quality.
Another bill would increase requirements for air monitoring in areas overburdened by pollution and codify a bureau within the Justice Department created in 2018 to protect communities from environmental injustices.
The Legislature voted to refill a fund that covers the cost of wildfire damage when utility equipment sparks a blaze. The bill would set up public financing to build electric utility projects.
Lawmakers also passed a measure allowing the state’s grid operator to partner with a regional group to manage power markets in western states. The bill aims to improve grid reliability. It would save ratepayers money because California would sell power to other states when it generates more than it needs and buy cheaper energy from out of state when necessary, the governor’s office said.
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — The fate of a key California climate program Gov. Gavin Newsom has championed as a crucial tool to respond to the Trump administration’s environmental rollbacks is in the hands of state lawmakers.
The Democrat-dominated Legislature is slated to vote Saturday on whether to extend the state’s cap-and-trade program, which is set to expire after 2030. The program, which launched in 2013, allows major greenhouse gas emitters to buy emission allowances from the state, with fewer available over time. Revenues fund climate change mitigation, affordable housing and transportation projects, as well as utility bill credits for Californians.
Newsom, a Democrat, and legislative leaders, who said months ago they would prioritize reauthorizing the program, almost ran out of time to introduce the proposal before the statehouse wraps for the year.
“After months of hard work with the Legislature, we have agreed to historic reforms that will save money on your electric bills, stabilize gas supply, and slash toxic air pollution — all while fast-tracking California’s transition to a clean, green job-creating economy,” Newsom said after striking the deal this week.
The proposal would reauthorize the program through 2045, better align the declining cap on emissions with the state’s climate targets and potentially boost carbon removal projects. It would also change the name to “cap and invest” to emphasize its funding of climate programs.
The Legislature will vote on another bill committing annual funding from the program’s revenues. It includes $1 billion for the state’s long-delayed high-speed rail project, $800 million for an affordable housing program, $250 million for community air protection programs and $1 billion for the Legislature to decide on annually.
The votes come as officials contend with balancing the state’s ambitious climate goals and the cost of living. California has some of the highest utility and gas prices in the country. Officials face increased pressure to stabilize the cost and supply of fuel amid the planned closures of two oil refineries that make up roughly 18% of the state’s refining capacity, according to energy regulators.
Proponents of the extension say it will give companies certainty over the program’s future. The state lost out on $3.6 billion in revenues over the past year and a half, largely due to uncertainty, according to a report from Clean and Prosperous California, a group of economists and lawyers supporting the program. Some environmentalists say the Trump administration’s attacks on climate programs, including the state’s first-in-the-nation ban on the sale of new gas-powered cars by 2035, added urgency to the reauthorization effort.
Cap and trade is an important cost-effective tool for curbing carbon emissions, said Katelyn Roedner Sutter, the California state director for the Environmental Defense Fund.
“Supporting this program and making this commitment into the future is extremely important — now more than ever,” she said.
But environmental justice advocates opposing the proposal say it doesn’t go far enough and lacks strong air quality protections for low-income Californians and communities of color more likely to live near major polluters.
“This really continues to allow big oil to reduce their emissions on paper instead of in real life,” said Asha Sharma, state policy manager at the Leadership Council for Justice and Accountability.
Critics have also said it will increase the cost of living.
“This moving forward, instead of lowering costs, it makes California even more expensive,” Republican state Sen. Tony Strickland said. “They’re raising the price of energy and gas and goods and services.”
Cap and trade has increased gas costs by about 26 cents per gallon, according to a February report from the Independent Emissions Advisory Committee, a group of experts that analyzes the program. It’s played “a very small role” in increasing electricity prices because the state’s grid isn’t very carbon intensive, the report says.
Lawmakers and lobbyists criticized the governor and legislative leaders for rushing the deal through with little public input.
Ben Golombek, executive vice president of the California Chamber of Commerce, said at a hearing this week that the Legislature should have taken more time “to do this right.”
Democratic state Sen. Caroline Menjivar said it shouldn’t be par for the course for lawmakers to jam through bills without the opportunity for amendments.
“We’re expected to vote on it,” she said of Democrats. “If not, you’re seen to not be part of the team or not want to be a team player.”
Menjivar ultimately voted to advance the bill out of committee.
The cap-and-trade bills are part of a sweeping package aimed at advancing the state’s energy transition and lowering costs for Californians.
One of the bills would streamline permits for oil production in Kern County, which proponents have hailed as a necessary response to planned refinery closures and critics have blasted as a threat to air quality.
Another would increase requirements for air monitoring in areas overburdened by pollution and codify a bureau within the Justice Department created in 2018 to protect communities from environmental injustices.
The state could refill a fund that covers the cost of wildfire damage caused by utility companies and set up public financing to build electric utility projects.
Lawmakers will also vote on a measure allowing the state’s grid operator to partner with a regional group to manage power markets in western states. The bill aims to improve grid reliability. It would save ratepayers money because California would sell power to other states when it generates more than it needs and buy cheaper energy from out of state when necessary, the governor’s office said.
Do you remember these apocalyptic scenes? Tuesday marks five years since the sky over the Bay Area turned orange.
Several wildfires were burning across Northern California at the time, filling the air with thick smoke that turned the entire sky an orange hue.
One of those wildfires remains the largest fire in California history. The August Complex Fire was sparked by lightning and burned more than 1 million acres.
State officials expect a rise in ozone and fine particulate levels that will be unhealthy for older adults, children and people with heart or lung disease, according to the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment.
The agency issued an action day alert at 4 p.m. Thursday that is set to last until at least 4 p.m. Friday. Communities covered by the alert span urban corridor from Douglas County to the south and Larimer and Weld counties to the north, including Denver, Boulder, Fort Collins, Loveland and Greeley.
People who are sensitive to air pollution should not spend long periods of time outside or participate in heavy exercise outdoors, state officials said.
Dyson has big changes coming. The company just announced its biggest batch of new products yet during IFA Berlin, with new appliances coming to both its floor cleaner and air treatment lines. From the already-announced PencilVac to an AI-powered robot vacuum and reimagined V8 Cyclone stick vacuum, the Dyson family of household appliances is about to get a lot bigger. There’s also a brand-new air purifier to come, plus updates to Dyson’s existing fan and space heater models.
While all of these items were announced today, only the new air purifier—the HushJet Purifier Compact HJ10, which will retail for $350—will be available in 2025, by the end of this month. Everything else will arrive sometime in 2026, with pricing still a mystery until closer to each product’s release. Here are the details of everything Dyson’s got in store.
New Classics
COURTESY OF DYSON
A lot of new floor care is arriving in 2026 from Dyson. The PencilVac was announced back in May, and there are three more related gadgets coming, plus a revamp of an old favorite. Pricing is still to come, as are the exact dates of when each of these will be available.
To start with the old, the popular V8 cordless vacuum from 2016 is getting new life 10 years later as the Dyson V8 Cyclone. Dyson says the updated stick vacuum will have 30 percent more suction power with 150 air watts and twice the run time—an hour over the original V8’s 30 minutes. It’ll have a triggerless power button and a self-emptying docking station, which is a feature I love on cordless vacuums. It’s a nice update to a popular vacuum that brings it up to speed with the technology and features we like to see in current stick vacuums.
The Dyson V16 Piston Animal is a new cordless stick vacuum with Dyson’s latest motor, a cleaner head that can sense the floor type, and a wet roller head. It promises 315 air watts of power and a 70-minute run time. The All Floor Cones Sense cleaner head will detect what type of floor it’s on and adjust the suction and brush bar speed for optimal performance, and it has LED illumination to help spot dust. You’ll also be able to attach the wet roller head, which is an updated version of the Submarine head—named the Submarine 2.0—that works with the Dyson V15 Detect. But I especially like the wipe-clean mechanism that helps get stubborn dust and long hairs out of the vacuum’s bin. There will also be a compatible self-emptying docking station that can be purchased separately (disappointing that it’s not included, and it sounds like the docking station might come after the vacuum’s initial release).
Cleaning Expanded
COURTESY OF DYSON
Dyson didn’t just announce stick vacuums. There are also a few other interesting related appliances coming to the lineup, but like the rest of the vacuums, pricing and availability timing aren’t available.
Tuolumne County has issued an air quality advisory through Friday due to smoke from ongoing fires affecting air quality in surrounding areas. Health officials are advising residents to limit their time outdoors.”It was so hot today that I was sweaty and I just felt like the smoke was sticking right onto my body,” said Laura Leitner, a Sonora resident, describing the uncomfortable conditions. The hazy skies in Sonora on Wednesday are a result of the smoke impacting air quality in the Foothills. The county’s health officer, Dr. Kimberly Freeman, explained that conditions will vary across the county. “It depends on the inversion layer. So as the temperature shifts and the air settles down at night, the air quality might be worse down low. And then that air quality, the bad air quality might shift up high during the day,” said Freeman.Dr. Freeman is urging people to limit their time outdoors, especially those with respiratory issues like asthma or COPD. Residents in Sonora are echoing this advice. “We just stay indoors as much as we can. If you don’t have to be outside, we don’t,” said Kelly Carter.Another resident advised, “Try to wear a mask, get some covering over so you’re not breathing it in,” while others suggested avoiding outdoor exercise for extended periods.For those who must be outside, Dr. Freeman warned, “You are being exposed to those chemicals after you’ve come indoors for hours, if not days, if you don’t wash those clothes. So changing, showering is important; it can accumulate in our hair and can cause problems.”She added, “Especially if it smells like smoke, it is affecting you and your respiratory system. So those are ways to keep you safe indoors.”Freeman also emphasized the importance of keeping windows closed at home and having proper air filters on A/C units. Currently, the county is not providing masks, but residents are encouraged to visit public buildings like libraries to escape the smoke.Information on air quality and smoke can be found on AirNow’s Fire and Smoke webpage at https://fire.airnow.gov, which shows data from permanent and temporary particulate monitors along with low-cost sensors; https://www2.purpleair.com/ will show daily/hourly air quality forecasts.See an air quality map below:See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel
SONORA, Calif. —
Tuolumne County has issued an air quality advisory through Friday due to smoke from ongoing fires affecting air quality in surrounding areas.
Health officials are advising residents to limit their time outdoors.
“It was so hot today that I was sweaty and I just felt like the smoke was sticking right onto my body,” said Laura Leitner, a Sonora resident, describing the uncomfortable conditions.
The hazy skies in Sonora on Wednesday are a result of the smoke impacting air quality in the Foothills.
The county’s health officer, Dr. Kimberly Freeman, explained that conditions will vary across the county.
“It depends on the inversion layer. So as the temperature shifts and the air settles down at night, the air quality might be worse down low. And then that air quality, the bad air quality might shift up high during the day,” said Freeman.
Dr. Freeman is urging people to limit their time outdoors, especially those with respiratory issues like asthma or COPD. Residents in Sonora are echoing this advice.
“We just stay indoors as much as we can. If you don’t have to be outside, we don’t,” said Kelly Carter.
Another resident advised, “Try to wear a mask, get some covering over so you’re not breathing it in,” while others suggested avoiding outdoor exercise for extended periods.
For those who must be outside, Dr. Freeman warned, “You are being exposed to those chemicals after you’ve come indoors for hours, if not days, if you don’t wash those clothes. So changing, showering is important; it can accumulate in our hair and can cause problems.”
She added, “Especially if it smells like smoke, it is affecting you and your respiratory system. So those are ways to keep you safe indoors.”
Freeman also emphasized the importance of keeping windows closed at home and having proper air filters on A/C units.
Currently, the county is not providing masks, but residents are encouraged to visit public buildings like libraries to escape the smoke.
Information on air quality and smoke can be found on AirNow’s Fire and Smoke webpage at https://fire.airnow.gov, which shows data from permanent and temporary particulate monitors along with low-cost sensors; https://www2.purpleair.com/ will show daily/hourly air quality forecasts.
University of Chicago researchers on Thursday released their annual Air Quality Life Index, a situational update on air pollution and how it impacts life expectancy. The AQLI report said particulate pollution “remained the greatest external threat to human life expectancy,” comparing the impact to smoking.
Researchers from the university’s Energy Policy Institute analyzed pollution data collected throughout 2023 and compared it with previous years.
Michael Greenstone, a professor at the University of Chicago who created the AQLI, told CBS News his team focused on airborne particulate matter — small particles that are able to invade and wreak havoc on the body more easily than larger ones.
The data is taken from satellite readings that refresh each year and can take time to process, which is why the latest figures date back a couple of years, Greenstone said.
While global pollution only rose slightly between 2022 and 2023, the report’s authors found that updated levels remained almost five times higher than the limit recommended by the World Health Organization to protect public safety. Local changes in air quality varied from one country to the next. The differences were particularly stark in the U.S. and Canada, where airborne particulate concentrations increased more than anywhere else.
Property and homes razed by a wildfire in Celista, British Columbia, Canada, on Saturday, Aug. 19, 2023.
Cole Burston/Bloomberg via Getty Images
“Evidence of a link between climate change, wildfire smoke, and rising particulate pollution has been increasing over the past two decades,” the authors wrote in their report, citing a recent study that found human-caused climate change “increased the likelihood of autumn wind-driven extreme wildfire events, especially in the Western U.S.”
Extreme wildfires, particularly forest fires, have become larger, more common and more intense since the beginning of this century, according to NASA.
The Canadian wildfires caused particulate concentrations in Canada to soar to levels not seen since 1998, according to the AQLI. In the U.S., the wildfires drove up pollution to levels not seen since 2011 — a 20% uptick from the levels recorded in 2022. Wisconsin, Illinois, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Oklahoma and Mississippi were markedly affected, with pockets of those states replacing 20 counties in California as the most polluted nationwide.
Out of 3,137 American counties, the number of locations with pollution levels above the national U.S. standard rose to 308 in 2023, up from just 12 in 2022, according to the report. Forty-eight of the counties were in Ohio, 41 were in Wisconsin, 31 were in Pennsylvania, 26 were in Indiana and 19 were in Illinois, with the remaining 143 spread across the rest of the country.
In Canada, the researchers said that 50% of residents in 2023 breathed air that contained particulates in amounts exceeding their national air quality standard. That was a sharp turnaround in the country’s progress in pursuit of cleaner air, which had resulted in particulate levels falling below the national standard in previous years, said the report’s authors, noting that particulate levels in Canada’s most polluted regions were roughly equal to those of Bolivia and Honduras, two countries that face are known to face challenges addressing air quality and pollution.
The Canadian provinces of Alberta, British Columbia and the Northwest Territories experienced the country’s worst pollution, according to the report. That reflected some of the locations of destructive wildfires that collectively burned more than 71,000 acres of land from the East to West Coasts. Smoke from those blazes permeated the atmosphere over Canada and the U.S., creating hazy, and at times, orange, skies while health posing threats to people with certain conditions.
Smoke from the Tantallon wildfire rises over houses in nearby Bedford, Nova Scotia, Canada, May 28, 2023.
ERIC MARTYN / REUTERS
Wildfires scorching Canada this summer have again given rise to serious air quality concerns, for Canadians and Americans alike.
“It’s correct to think of this air pollution from the wildfires as, kind of, the ghost of fossil fuels past,” Greenstone told CBS News.
He said that the U.S. has over the last half-century made “enormous progress” toward blocking particulates generated through the burning of fossil fuels, like oil and gas, from entering the air. The AQLI credited the implementation of the Clean Air Act for reducing particulate concentrations by over 60% since 1970, which it says added 1.4 years to the life expectancy of American residents.
But the devices used to block particulates do not prevent carbon dioxide from infiltrating the atmosphere, driving up temperatures and increasing both the incidence and the severity of wildfires, Greenstone added. When trees burn in a fire, more particulates are produced and released again.
“The point we’re trying to make is that CO2 that’s released when we use fossil fuels, both historically and today, it stays up in the atmosphere for centuries, and it raises temperatures, and it will continue to for centuries,” Greenstone said. “What we’re seeing is an important consequence of that, which is, it’s going to increase the incidence of wildfires going forward. And those wildfires are causing us to breathe air that is going to cause us to lead shorter and sicker lives.”
Emily Mae Czachor is a reporter and news editor at CBSNews.com. She typically covers breaking news, extreme weather and issues involving social justice. Emily Mae previously wrote for outlets like the Los Angeles Times, BuzzFeed and Newsweek.
As is the case for many people, my home cannot be retrofitted with central air. My 100-plus-year-old Brooklyn apartment, which features prominently in my seven years of air qualityreportingfor WIRED, relies on window air conditioning units to keep cool on our warming planet. While there is the obvious paradox that air conditioners are players in climate change, AC units are evolving with more environmentally safe refrigerants, eco modes, smart apps, modern design, and energy-efficient consumption.
That is to say, while I prefer to keep my AC units turned off, on hot days, my top-floor apartment’s temperature will climb to the upper 90s without the support of air conditioning. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that more than 700 people die every year in the United States due to extreme heat. The elderly, young children, pregnant women, and those with existing medical conditions are especially vulnerable.
The number one recommendation from the CDC during extreme heat events is to stay inside an air-conditioned location. The World Health Organization warns that while electric fans can move air onto the body to create a sort of wind-chill effect, when it’s 104 degrees Fahrenheit or above, they can actually increase your body temperature. The ideal combination is using air conditioningin concert with fans to move cool air around a space.
Courtesy of Kat Merck
Lasko
20-inch Classic Box Fan
The inability to cool down one’s body temperature is what can lead to heat stroke and other heat-related health events. Air conditioning saves lives.
I’ve been writing about air quality for WIRED since 2018, and as climate change wreaks havoc on our environment, I continue to test and review the latest window air conditioning units on the market. There are two types of window units we review: the recognizable metal box units that hang out of a window, and the increasingly popular “portable” units that use hoses—preferably two—that attach to the window. Both types of AC units offer relief from the heat and protect against heat-related illness. If you’re unsure whether you should turn on your air conditioner, you can check the CDC’s HeatRisk Tracker Map.
Professional Installation Is Worth the Money
Photograph: Lisa Wood Shapiro
LG
12,000 BTU Smart Window Air Conditioner
Your city or town may not have fines and requirements for window unit installation. New York City requires support brackets, especially for those units above sidewalks. I recently hired a professional AC company to securely install LG’s 12,000 BTU model, above. At over 80 pounds, it was too heavy for me to lift. I’ve yet to test a window unit AC where the manufacturer didn’t recommend two people for lifting and installing the unit, usually with a pictogram on the box of two people holding the same box.
Window units are designed to fit in single- or double-hung windows, usually at a minimum height opening of 13 inches. A window unit’s metal support brackets are designed to counteract the downward force of gravity. And there shouldn’t be any books, bricks, or blocks of wood used to level the unit once in the window. There are exceptions—window designs like U-Shaped ACs, like our pick below (an updated model from the one that was recalled this summer), distribute weight equally between the inside and outside of the window sash and may not require brackets.
Courtesy of Midea
Midea
U-Shaped Air Conditioner
Smart AC Units Save Money
More and more AC units connect to an app, and while some apps are easier to use than others, smart units have the added feature of turning them on and off remotely or through the use of in-app timers. Smart units have Eco Mode that run at a lower setting, as well as a variety of other features, including temperature settings. Smart ACs give the user so much more agency in knowing when to turn on or off their units.
Environmentally Friendly Refrigerant
Photograph: Lisa Shapiro
Windmill
8,000 BTU with WhisperTech
In my hometown of New York City, residents need to make an online appointment with the Department of Sanitation when placing an old air conditioner on the sidewalk for trash collection. The city removes the CFC (chlorofluorocarbon) gas, or Freon, and affixes a sticker, clearing the unit to be picked for removal. There are now more environmentally friendly refrigerants on the market, such as R600a or R32. Windmill uses R32 in its line of ACs, like our pick above, and while refrigerants like R32 have fewer ozone-depleting properties than old Freon, it is flammable. It’s that flammability that keeps municipal waste management from collecting it for disposal. Companies like Windmill have a trade-in and recycling program for their customers. If your new AC has a yellow triangle with a black flame, your refrigerant is flammable.
Sound
The rattle from a window unit can vibrate throughout a window frame—another reason why professional installation is so important. If an AC isn’t properly leveled, there’s going to be noise. Beyond the rattle of an unleveled AC, would-be AC customers can log on to a manufacturer’s website or online store to see the decibel rating for each unit. Knowing that a refrigerator’s hum is around 40 to 50 decibels and that conversation is around 60 decibels can help you choose the right sound level for you. Knowing the decibel rating is especially important for bedroom units. Will your AC keep you up on hot nights?
Directional Airflow and Filters
Photograph: Lisa Wood Shapiro
GE
Window Air Conditioner Unit, 5,000 BTU
I recently tested GE’s most affordable AC unit, above, and it was only when it was placed next to my bed that I noticed the limited choices I had in choosing the direction of airflow. It had a small grip to slide the airflow to the right, center, or left. They all felt very similar, and it was apparent that having the directional airflow option for straight-up or close to straight-up airflow is a must-have. There is little choice in where to place a window AC in a one-window room. Look for louvers that can move both up and down as well as side to side. WIRED has tested ACs with HEPA filters and with regular slide-out filters. It’s important to keep your AC’s filters clean for your unit to run properly. A clean-the-filter indicator light is an especially helpful feature.
Portable ACs for Unusual Windows
Courtesy of EcoFlow
Photograph: Lisa Wood Shapiro
Ecoflow
Wave 3 Portable Air Conditioner
Portable air conditioners are often the only choice for those with either unique or sliding windows, or for those who can’t or aren’t allowed to install a unit in their window. It wasn’t that long ago that most units on the market had a single hose that fit into a window panel with a hole that matched the circumference of the duct. A single hose has the potential of lowering the air pressure and creating a vacuum. A two-duct system like Ecoflow’s, above, is more efficient with both air intake and exhaust, and more and more smart models are app-enabled. The downside of these AC units is their large presence in the room. Many look like rectangular robots. They’re heavy, but most have wheels to make moving them easier, along with the option to have the airflow go straight up. While the design of many of the units we’ve tested has gotten more compact and sleek, the ducts are still a lot. The wide tubing isn’t easy to hide. Still, if you need an AC and cannot use a window unit, portable air conditioners are a godsend.
What Are BTUs?
British thermal unit or BTU is the measurement of the energy required to remove heat within an hour. According to the US Department of Energy, you’ll need 20 BTUs for each square foot of living space. A 300-square-foot room will require an AC with 6,000 BTUs. It’s important to know your room’s square footage. A high BTU in a small room will result in improper dehumidification, and if the BTU is too weak, it will take longer for the unit to cool the room efficiently.
Looks
Courtesy of July
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Colorado’s fifth-largest wildfire on record is 90% contained as rain showers and thunderstorms continue across the Western Slope, fire officials said.
As of Monday morning, the Lee fire had consumed 137,758 acres, equal to roughly 215 square miles. The burn area is just two acres short of Colorado’s fourth-largest wildfire on record — the 137,760-acre Hayman fire that sparked in 2002.
Other wildfires burning on Colorado’s Western Slope have scorched thousands of additional acres. Fire officials across the state have said hot, dry and windy conditions fueled the flames’ rapid growth.
Storms over the next several days will bring much-needed rain to the drought-stricken Western Slope, according to the National Weather Service. But those storms also increase the risk of lightning and strong winds — weather that can start fires and fan the flames of those already burning.
A wildland firefighting truck heads down a road through a hillside burned from the Lee fire near Colorado 64 in Rio Blanco County, west of Meeker, on Friday, Aug. 8, 2025. (Photo by Andy Cross/The Denver Post)
Lee and Elk fires, near Meeker
Growth on the largest wildfire burning in Colorado — the fifth-largest ever recorded in the state — has slowed over the past week as firefighters increase containment around the flames.
As of Monday morning, the 137,758-acre Lee fire burning between Meeker and Rifle was 90% contained, fire officials said.
“Minimal work” remains to fully contain the wildfire, Incident Commander Brent Olson said in a Sunday afternoon briefing.
All mandatory evacuation orders were lifted Saturday, but multiple areas around the fire remain on pre-evacuation status. An updated evacuation map for Rio Blanco and Garfield counties is available online.
The Lee fire and nearby Elk fire, which consumed more than 14,500 acres before reaching full containment last week, have together destroyed at least five homes and 14 outbuildings, fire officials said.
Extreme drought, high temperatures and strong winds fueled rapid growth on both fires, which were sparked by lightning west and east of Meeker on Aug. 2.
Rain showers and cooler temperatures helped mitigate the flames last week, which allowed firefighters to steadily increase containment. More showers and thunderstorms are expected in the days ahead as Colorado braces for a monsoonal weather system.
Rain showers and thunderstorms are most likely near Meeker and Rifle between 10 a.m. and 8 p.m. Monday, according to the National Weather Service. Chances of precipitation range from 30% to 50%, forecasters said.
Chances of rain greatly increase later this week in both areas, jumping to 90% Tuesday afternoon and remaining there until 11 a.m. Wednesday, according to hourly forecasts from the weather service.
While the rain is helpful, afternoon thunderstorms also increase the risk of gusty winds, frequent lightning and flash flooding along burn scars, fire officials said.
Heavy rains caused flash flooding in the Lee fire burn area on Sunday afternoon. The water caused a debris flow, which was blocking Piceance Creek Road, officials said in a Sunday afternoon update. It’s unclear if rain caused flooding in the Elk fire burn scar.
A plane drops fire retardant on the Derby fire burning in Eagle County on Aug. 22, 2025. (Photo provided by Derby Fire Information)
Derby fire, in Eagle County
A wildfire burning on the edge of Eagle and Garfield counties has scorched more than 5,300 acres, fire officials said Monday.
The Derby fire is burning on 5,346 acres with no containment, up roughly 100 acres from Sunday and 1,200 acres from Saturday, fire officials said.
Thunderstorm activity and gusty winds have driven the fire south in recent days, meteorologist Ryan Fliehman said in a Sunday afternoon briefing.
Rain showers and thunderstorms started Sunday afternoon and are expected to continue through Wednesday as a “strong monsoonal push of moisture” hits the Western Slope, Fliehman said.
The storms will help dampen the quickly spreading wildfire but may create other problems on the newly charred landscape, like flash flooding, fire officials said.
The Derby fire was discovered on “remote, rugged terrain” in the White River National Forest, about 15 miles from Dotsero in Eagle County, on Aug. 17, according to the U.S. Forest Service.
Mandatory evacuations and pre-evacuations are in place for the northwest corner of Eagle County, including the town of Gypsum, and an eastern section of Garfield County.
Evacuations will be lifted for Sweetwater Valley and Sheep Creek at 10 a.m. Monday, allowing limited access for residents to return home, according to fire officials. Residents will be required to present proof of address at checkpoints along Colorado River Road.
That area will remain on pre-evacuation status and people may be required to re-evacuate if conditions change, fire officials said. Livestock will not be allowed to return yet. The wildfire’s activity remains unpredictable.
“This is not a full repopulation, as the risks are still very high and residents should remain prepared to vacate at any time,” Eagle County Sheriff James Van Beek said in a statement on social media.
Travel within the restricted area must remain extremely limited to protect both residents and fire crews, sheriff’s officials said. The best window for essential travel is between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., when conditions are safest and least disruptive to emergency operations.
The Eagle County Sheriff’s Office is working on a plan to allow some evacuated residents to access their homes, specifically “those who own property or depend on it for their livelihood,” sheriff’s officials said Sunday. Exact details of that plan were not available, and the evacuation orders remain in place.
At least one building has been destroyed by the wildfire, but it’s unclear what type of building it was.
The U.S. Forest Service also expanded closures in the White River National Forest in Eagle and Garfield counties, including southwest of Sweetwater Lake to the west rim of Deep Creek Canyon. Some BLM lands are also closed, including north and west of Gypsum, north of Coffee Pot Road, west of the Colorado River, east of the White River National Forest boundary and south of Derby Creek.
The Stoner Mesa fire burns in southwestern Colorado’s San Juan National Forest on Saturday, Aug. 23, 2025. (Photo provided by Stoner Mesa Fire Information)
Stoner Mesa fire, near Dolores
The Stoner Mesa fire is burning on 10,233 acres in a remote section of the San Juan National Forest, fire officials said Sunday.
Multiple areas around the fire — including Mavreeso, Gobble Creek, Fish Creek, Johnny Bull Creek, Dunton, Lizard Head, Horse Creek, Rico and Sulfer Creek — remain on “monitor” status, the step before pre-evacuation orders, according to the wildfire’s evacuation map.
All pre-evacuation orders were lifted Saturday, but sections of the San Juan National Forest remain closed for the wildfire.
As of Sunday, the lightning-sparked Stoner Mesa fire was 41% contained.
A Meeker fire department truck stations itself at an out building across from W. Highway 64 as smoke billows on a ridge above it from the Lee fire in Rio Blanco County just outside of Meeker on Thursday, Aug. 7, 2025. (Photo by Andy Cross/The Denver Post)
Air-quality impacts
Air quality alerts for wildfire smoke near the Derby and Stoner Mesa fires were issued Sunday morning by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment.
The warnings, which include southeastern Dolores County, northeastern Montezuma County, western Eagle County and eastern Garfield County, will remain active through at least 9 a.m. Monday.
Smoke will be heaviest in the areas near the fires, especially during the overnight and early morning hours, state health officials said. Incoming storm systems should help improve air quality near the fires.
Smoky conditions are most hazardous for young children, older adults and people with heart disease or respiratory illnesses, according to state health officials.
All residents should limit outdoor activity when heavy smoke is present. If visibility drops to 5 miles or less, the smoke has reached unhealthy levels.
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