‘Unhealthy’ Air Quality Reported In Tampa Bay After NYE Fireworks

TAMPA BAY, FL — The day after New Year’s Eve fireworks displays throughout the region, “unhealthy” air quality has been reported in parts of the Tampa Bay area, according the Florida Department of Environmental Protection.

The agency’s Air Quality Index runs on a scale from 0 to 500. The higher the AQI, the greater the level of air pollution and the greater the health concern.

“Florida rarely has AQI values greater than 100 and has never officially had a value greater than 200,” FDEP said.

Values below 100 are generally thought of as “satisfactory,” the agency said. Values near or just above 100 indicate that air quality is considered “unhealthy” certain sensitive groups of people with health conditions. Higher AQI values indicate the air quality is unhealthy for everyone.

In Pinellas County, the AQI at St. Petersburg College in Clearwater Monday is 152 while the AQI for Azalea Park in St. Petersburg is 157.

These areas are “unhealthy” for all, according to the agency’s standards, even active children and adults should reduce or avoid outdoor exertion, while people with heart or lung disease and older adults should avoid prolonged or heavy exertion.

The AQI is 104 at John Chesnut Sr. Park in East Lake, 144 at Munro Street in Tampa, 120 at Sydney in Hillsborough County and 150 at Baptist Children’s Home in Lakeland, data shows. This makes the air quality “unhealthy for sensitive groups,” including those with heart or lung disease.

Meanwhile, the AQI is moderate in several areas with a value of 51 on Davis Islands in Tampa, 58 in Gardiner Park in Gibsonton, 69 at Bee Ridge Park in Sarasota and 58 at Jackson Road in Venice.

At this level, “unusually sensitive people should consider reducing prolonged or heavy exertion outdoors,” FDEP said.

Fireworks are known to increase the number of particulate matter in the air, the South Coast Air Quality Management District told CBS News.

“Fireworks emit high levels of particle pollution … as well as metal air pollutants, all of which can contribute to negative health effects," the agency said. "Breathing 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, or difficulty breathing and may lead to premature death in people with heart or lung disease.”