Thousands of Americans near two major cities have been warned to stay inside as airborne pollutants have risen to dangerous levels for human health.
Air quality meters from 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 captured 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.
Parts of the Georgia suburbs saw PM2.5 concentrations more than 15 times higher than the WHO's recommended safe levels.
Residents in the affected areas have been advised to avoid outdoor exercise, wear a face mask if going outside, close all windows to prevent polluted air from coming inside, and turn on air purifiers if you own one.
Even short-term exposure to high levels of these particles can cause concerning health problems, including irritation of the eyes, throat, and nose.
Among vulnerable individuals, breathing in particles produced by smoke, car exhaust, and factory emissions can also lead to irregular heartbeats, asthma attacks, coughing, chest tightness, and shortness of breath.
On Sunday and Monday, a portion of I-95 was shut down just south of Daytona Beach due to wildfire smoke and low visibility.
To understand the impact of stagnant air on this situation, it’s helpful to look at atmospheric pressure. Pressure is measured in millibars, with normal sea-level pressure being 1,013 millibars.
High pressure in both areas of Georgia and Florida registered above 1,020 millibars on Tuesday, often bringing calm, stable, dry weather with clear skies and light winds.
However, it also keeps whatever is in the air from moving out or scattering higher up in the atmosphere.
In 2025, the American Lung Association gave Daytona Beach's Volusia County a 'B' grade in terms of particle pollution, noting that the area had some of the cleanest air in the state.
Georgia's Cobb and Fulton counties, which include Atlanta, also received a healthy 'B' grade from the American Lung Association.
However, Paulding County, which includes Dallas and Pickett’s Mill, did not receive a grade from the group in 2025.
Both towns saw PM2.5 levels soar into the 'unhealthy' range on Tuesday and are near an area reportedly at risk for wildfires in Braswell, Georgia.
According to the EPA, there are also six 'prescribed fires' taking place just 75 miles west of the Atlanta suburbs, in Alabama's Talladega National Forest.
A so-called prescribed fire, or controlled burn, means officials have carefully planned and intentionally set fire to areas to reduce their overall wildfire risk, clear excess brush and dead plants, improve wildlife habitats, or restore healthy natural ecosystems.
