Air quality in Phoenix tends to become unhealthy in the last week of the year. Celebratory fireworks and wood burning contribute to the haze.
The Valley saw record-breaking smoke levels over the New Year’s holiday.
"This year we did reach the hazardous, which is the highest the EPA has in the air quality index. We have reached those levels before in Phoenix on New Year's, but this year the concentrations were the highest that we have seen," said Brody Droppleman with the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality.
Phoenix’s air quality can fluctuate throughout the day based on several factors.
When there is little wind and the air is dry and cold in the Valley, pollution remains relatively stagnant. Air quality is often worse in the mornings and evenings as temperatures are lower, but it improves during the day.
Droppleman says the burning of wood and fireworks over the holidays contributed to record-breaking particulates.
“Especially for New Year's when we don’t have any rain and it’s dry, it’s probably going to happen more often than not that we are going to exceed the federal health standard," he said.
According to the latest forecast, there’s no relief in sight. Droppleman says bad air quality affects healthy people, as well as those with respiratory problems.
