Air Quality Advisory Issued For Manatee County: Officials

MANATEE COUNTY, FL — A precautionary air quality advisory was issued Tuesday for Manatee County because of elevated levels of particulate matter, officials said.

The advisory is in effect through Wednesday.

The elevated levels were found Tuesday at Florida Department of Environmental Protection monitoring stations in Sarasota County and southern Hillsborough County, according to a Manatee County news release.

Though these particles aren’t monitored in Manatee, “the nearby levels are indicative of issues here,” the county said.

The levels fall within the “unhealthy for sensitive groups” category according to the Environmental Protection Agency’s national ambient air quality standards for public health. The inhalable particles are small enough to enter the bloodstream.

Smoke from ongoing Canadian wildfires paired with strong winds from the northeast are impacting air quality along the East Coast of the U.S., including Florida.

People with respiratory issues may have their health affected during the air advisory and may want to consider limiting their outdoor activities, the county said. The general public likely won’t be affected.