The Mojave Desert Air Quality Management District on Wednesday advised potentially poor air quality in its jurisdiction for the next week due to excessive heat and the use of fireworks.

Air quality will be impacted from Wednesday through July 9 in all of the Mojave Desert Air Quality Management District, according to the Victorville-based agency.

The Mojave Desert Air Quality Management District’s air monitoring staff operates and maintains six monitoring stations, which are located in Barstow, Hesperia, Phelan, Trona, Twentynine Palms, and Victorville.

Ground-level ozone

The National Weather Service has issued an excessive heat warning across California, including communities within the Mojave Desert Air Quality Management District.

Excessive daytime high temperatures contribute to increased concentrations of ground-level ozone, and may possibly worsen ambient, or breathable, air quality to the “Red – Unhealthy” Air Quality Index category, the agency stated.

At this level, anyone may experience health effects. Those with respiratory illnesses, children, seniors and active adults are more likely to experience health effects.

The advisory may be extended consistent with the National Weather Service and air quality forecasts.

Agency officials explained that ground-level ozone can be difficult to detect by the human eye and nose, so air quality officials encourage residents to check the Air Quality Index before heading outside.

Visit MDAQMD.ca.gov, AirNow.gov, or use the weather app on your smartphone.

PM2.5 due to fireworks

In addition to ozone impacts, air quality officials regularly measured an increase in PM2.5 levels late on July 4 and on July 5 in years past, likely a direct result of numerous commercial fireworks displays as well as an extraordinary volume of illegal “backyard” fireworks.

Fireworks are known to emit high levels of PM2.5 and PM10 as well as metal air pollutants, all of which can contribute to negative health effects.

Breathing high levels of fine particulate matter can lead to a wide variety of cardiovascular and respiratory health effects such as heart attacks, asthma aggravation, decreased lung function, coughing and difficulty breathing, the agency said.

Fireworks, especially “personal” ones that are illegal, pose a serious threat of sparking wildfires. As with any wildfire, this potential threat is not only a danger to life and property, it can create unhealthy and potentially hazardous air quality conditions.

Tips to stay safe

Elevated levels of fine particle pollution and ground-level ozone can affect everyone, but it’s particularly unhealthy for those with heart and respiratory illnesses, children, seniors and active adults.

Here are a few recommendations for people in areas impacted by poor air quality including smoke, residual pollution from fireworks, and ozone:

• Everyone should consider avoiding any vigorous outdoor or indoor exertion

• People with respiratory or heart disease, older adults, and children should consider remaining indoors

• Keep windows and doors closed

• Run your air conditioner. Use the recirculation function

• Avoid using a swamp cooler or whole-house fan to prevent bringing outdoor pollutants inside.

The Environmental Protection Agency’s Smoke-Ready toolbox offers helpful tips to protect your health and those around you at.epa.gov/pm-pollution/fires-and-your-health.

The Mojave Desert Air Quality Management District encourages residents to check local air quality levels by visiting AirNow.gov. Sign up for text and email air quality forecasts at enviroflash.info.

This article originally appeared on Victorville Daily Press: Mojave Desert air quality potentially impacted by heat, fireworks