By ELAINA WEST
Staff Writer
The air quality index for Visalia has been the poorest of the year, with an index of 491 on Saturday. PM10 is a pollutant of course particles, and PM 2.5 is finer particles. These are made up of sea salt, pollen, dust, and motor vehicle pollutants. At high levels, these can cause coughing, wheezing, asthma attacks, and high blood pressure. It is harmful to our bodies and our environment. A safe P 2.5 level is around 30, and safe PM10 is 51-100. The PM2.5 and PM10 in Visalia are 56 and 569. This is very concerning for the Valley. Visalia is ranked in the top ten cities in the U.S. for worst air quality, among LA, Bakersfield, and Seattle. It is important to reduce the time you spend outside, especially doing arduous sports or activities, in order to protect your health.