We live in one of the most beautiful regions in the country. We also live in one of the most polluted areas. In Los Angeles and Orange County, the air carries risks that are easy to overlook because you cannot always see or smell them. Our communities are located near major freeways, including the 101, 110, and 405, and can experience pollution from traffic, industrial activity, and wildfires. On hot days, smog gets trapped by the mountains around the basin. The result is air that, on many days, quietly harms those who breathe it.
The good news is that knowledge is protection. Understanding what is in the air, when it is dangerous, and what to do about it can meaningfully reduce your family's health risks.
What Is Air Pollution?
Air pollution is not just one thing but a mix of particles and gases from cars, factories, construction, and fires. The three types that cause the most harm to human health are:
PM2.5 (fine particulate matter): These are microscopic particles released by vehicles, factories, and fires. They are about 30 times smaller than a human hair, which means they pass straight through your nose and throat,traveling deep into your lungs and entering your bloodstream. You cannot see them or smell them, but over time, they cause serious damage to your lungs, heart, and brain [1].
Ozone: This is a colorless gas that forms when sunlight reacts with pollutants from cars and industrial sources. It is one of the main ingredients in the smog and haze that builds up over the LA basin on hot days, and it irritates the airways and is especially harmful for people with asthma or other lung conditions [2].
Wildfire smoke: When a wildfire burns through neighborhoods, it is not just trees and brush that burn. It is burning homes, furniture, plastics, cars, and chemicals inside buildings. The result is a complex mix of pollutants far more dangerous than ordinary smoke, making it the most toxic of all [3,4].
Why This Region Feels It More
Many communities in Los Angeles and Orange County, especially those near major freeways and industrial areas, experience higher levels of everyday pollution than other parts of the region [4]. In communities like Pico-Union and South LA, these disparities are not accidental. Decades of urban planning decisions placed major freeways like the 110 and 10 through politically disenfranchised Black and Latino neighborhoods, contributing to diesel particulate matter levels in Pico-Union that are 54% higher than the county average [5].
During the January 2025 LA wildfires, air quality in parts of LA County reached Hazardous levels, the highest category on the Air Quality Index, putting everyone in the region at risk. The health impacts of that event will be studied and felt in our region for years to come [6]. The health impacts of that event will be studied and felt in our region for years to come.
Certain groups face significantly higher risks during these poor air quality events. This includes older adults, pregnant women, and anyone with asthma, heart disease, or diabetes. Children breathe in more air relative to their body size than adults do, which makes them especially vulnerable [7,8].
How to Check Air Quality for Free
Before letting your kids play outside,going for a run, or opening windows on a warm morning, take 30 seconds to check the Air Quality Index (AQI) for your neighborhood. Here is how:
AirNow.gov: To use this website, enter your zip code to get the current AQI for your area. This is the official government source [9].
PurpleAir app: This app uses sensors placed throughout neighborhoods to show hyperlocal air quality readings, often more accurate than city-wide averages [11].
South Coast AQMD (aqmd.gov): This is the regional air quality agency for the LA basin. They issue health advisories in English and Spanish and alert the public during smoke events [12].
AQI | Air Quality | What to Do |
0 to 50 | Good | Safe for everyone. Enjoy time outside. |
51 to 100 | Moderate | Sensitive individuals should limit prolonged outdoor exertion. |
101 to 150 | Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups | Children, the elderly, and anyone with asthma or heart conditions should reduce outdoor time. |
151 to 200 | Unhealthy | Everyone should limit outdoor activity. Wear an N95 mask if you must go outside. |
201 and above | Very Unhealthy or Hazardous | Stay indoors. Close windows. Use an air purifier. Do not exercise outside. |
AQI categories and guidelines are established by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency [9].
Protecting Your Family: What Actually Works
When the air quality is poor, here are the steps that make a real difference.
If you need to go outside:
Wear an N95 or KN95 mask. Standard cloth masks and surgical masks do not filter fine particles. N95 masks are available at pharmacies, and some community organizations that distribute them for free during smoke events. These are the same masks used during COVID-19, and they work [10].
Avoid outdoor exercise and play when the AQI is above 100. This is especially important for children and elderly family members [4,13].
If you can smell smoke, that is a clear signal to go inside.
Avoid burning wood, candles, or incense indoors on smoky days. These add to the pollution load inside your home [10].
Inside your home:
Close windows and doors during smoke or smog events, even if it feels warm inside.
Run the air conditioning on the “recirculate” setting, not the fresh-air setting. Fresh air mode pulls outside air in [10].
A HEPA air purifier: Having one in your home makes a significant difference, especially in bedrooms where your family spends many hours. Look for one with an activated carbon filter to capture both particles and gas pollutants like benzene [14].
Vacuum regularly during and after smoke events to reduce particles that settle on surfaces, and ventilate thoroughly once the air has cleared [15].
Advice for Multigenerational Households
Many families in Los Angeles and Orange County share a home across two or three generations, which means one smoke event affects everyone from the youngest child to the oldest grandparent. The clean room strategy described above (designate one room, run the air purifier inside, and keep younger children and older family members there during high-pollution days) is especially important in these households.
A few additional steps specific to multigenerational households:
If a grandparent or family member uses an inhaler for asthma or COPD, make sure it is filled and accessible before wildfire season. Do not wait until a fire is already burning to refill a prescription.
If any family member experiences severe breathing difficulty, chest pain, or confusion during a smoke event, seek emergency care right away. These are not symptoms to wait out at home [7].
After a Wildfire: Special Cleanup Precautions
Once a fire is out, many people assume the danger has passed, but this is not the case. Ash and debris from burned homes contain toxic chemicals including lead, asbestos, benzene, and dozens of other harmful compounds. These can linger in soil, on surfaces, and in the air long after the flames are gone. Follow these precautions to reduce your exposure to these harmful substances:
After doing a gentle sweep of an area covered in ash, a wet mopping will help remove the remaining ash safely.
Always wear gloves and an N95 mask when handling ash or soot.
Keep children away from ash and burned areas until the area has been officially cleared [16].
Local Resources
South Coast AQMD: aqmd.gov. Daily air quality alerts, health advisories in English and Spanish, and information on protective measures during smoke events.
LA County Public Health: publichealth.lacounty.gov. Health advisories to help with finding community health and emergency resources.
AirNow.gov: Real-time AQI by zip code, available in multiple languages.
LA County 2-1-1: Dial 2-1-1 from any phone for help finding community health resources, including air purifiers and masks during emergency events.
Sources
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. (n.d.). Particulate matter (PM) basics. https://www.epa.gov/pm-pollution/particulate-matter-pm-basics
South Coast Air Quality Management District. (n.d.). Dirty air: The health effects of air pollution. https://www.aqmd.gov/docs/default-source/publications/brochures/dirty-air-brochure.pdf
Heft-Neal S, et al. (2025). Air Quality Impacts of the January 2025 Los Angeles Wildfires. Environmental Science & Technology Letters. doi.org/10.1021/acs.estlett.5c00486
PMC/NIH. (2025). Wildfire Exposure and Respiratory Health: A Comprehensive Review. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12488353
UCLA Latino Policy & Politics Institute. (2024). Building stronger communities: Insights from local economic development efforts in Pico Union. https://latino.ucla.edu/research/building-stronger-communities-pico-union/
Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service. (2025). Los Angeles wildfires and air quality impact. atmosphere.copernicus.eu
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2024). Wildfire smoke and people with chronic conditions. https://www.cdc.gov/wildfires/risk-factors/wildfire-smoke-and-people-with-chronic-conditions.html
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. (2008). Child-specific exposure factors handbook (Final report). https://assessments.epa.gov/risk/document/&deid=199243
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. (n.d.). AirNow. https://www.airnow.gov
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2026, August 24). Safety guidelines: Wildfires and wildfire smoke. https://www.cdc.gov/wildfires/safety/how-to-safely-stay-safe-during-a-wildfire.html
PurpleAir. (n.d.). PurpleAir air quality monitor network. https://www.purpleair.com
South Coast Air Quality Management District. Smoke Advisory and Health Guidance. aqmd.gov
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. (n.d.). Older adults and air quality. https://www.airnow.gov/air-quality-and-health/older-adults/
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. (n.d.). Guide to air cleaners in the home. https://www.epa.gov/indoor-air-quality-iaq/guide-air-cleaners-home
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. (n.d.). Sources of indoor particulate matter (PM). https://www.epa.gov/indoor-air-quality-iaq/sources-indoor-particulate-matter-pm
Los Angeles County Department of Public Health. (n.d.). Returning home after a fire. http://publichealth.lacounty.gov/media/WildFire/docs/returninghome/returning-home-after-fire.pdf