Thousands of Americans near two major cities have been warned to stay inside as airborne pollutants has risen to dangerous levels to human health.
Air quality meters for the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) sounded the alarm Tuesday morning, showing unsafe conditions in both Daytona Beach, Florida and Atlanta, Georgia.
Live tracking data showed sharply elevated levels of PM2.5, microscopic particles composed of toxic compounds or heavy metals that are small enough to penetrate the lungs, inflame the respiratory system, and even contribute to heart attacks.
The increased levels have been tied to recent wildfire smoke exacerbating a condition called stagnant air, where little to no wind and high atmospheric pressure trap pollution near ground level.
In Daytona Beach, a coastal city with roughly 80,000 residents, PM2.5 concentration was recorded at 12.5 times higher than the World Health Organization’s recommended safe limit.
Both the EPA and air quality-tracking website IQAir warned that the air in Florida had reached ‘unhealthy’ levels for all residents, exceeding 150 on the Air Quality Index (AQI).
Around Atlanta’s suburban areas, multiple readings surpassed 150 and even 160, including in Dallas, Powder Springs, Roswell, and Vinings.
Air quality levels are measured on a scale from 0 to 500: good (0–50) carries little risk, moderate (51–100) may affect sensitive individuals, unhealthy for sensitive groups (101–150) poses increased risk, and unhealthy (151–200) impacts everyone, limiting outdoor activity.
This is a breaking story. More details to follow.
The EPA’s air quality-tracking system AirNow has warned of ‘unhealthy’ levels in multiple parts of Florida on Tuesday (Seen in red)
Daytona Beach, Florida blanketed with dense fog in January 2026. A new weather system has set off air quality alerts for similar conditions on Tuesday
Parts of the Georgia suburbs saw PM2.5 concentrations more than 15 times higher than the WHO’s recommended safe levels.
Air quality-tracking website IQAir reported multiple zones in the Atlanta suburbs that were experiencing unsafe conditions on Tuesday morning, exceeding 150 on the Air Quality Index
Atlanta, Georgia seen in the fog during winter (Stock Image)
