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By Amanda Greenwood
Associate News Editor
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Thousands of residents across parts of Oklahoma and Kansas have been advised to stay inside as a pocket of fine particle pollution (PM2.5) is spreading—reaching “unhealthy” levels in Oklahoma—as of Wednesday, March 25, 2026, at 7.30 a.m. ET, according to the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) AirNow Map, which monitors the quality of air across America.
What Should Residents in Affected Areas Do
When air quality becomes “unhealthy,” residents in affected areas are advised to take steps to reduce their exposure to the polluted air. Everyone should aim to limit the intensity and duration of outdoor activities, but those in sensitive groups—which include the elderly, children, and people with existing heart or lung medical conditions—are advised to avoid all outdoor activities until conditions improve.
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They should also try to keep the air indoors as clean as possible, including in their homes. They can do this by keeping their windows and doors closed, using air purifiers or filters to keep clean air circulating in the house, and avoiding burning candles, incense, or internal fires and woodstoves.
What’s Causing 'Unhealthy' Air Quality Across Oklahoma
Elevated levels of PM2.5 can be caused by a range of sources, including dust from unpaved roads, dirt tracks, and construction sites, emissions released from vehicles and power or industrial plants, or smoke from wildfires.
Although the EPA hasn’t officially confirmed what is causing “unhealthy” levels of air pollution across a section of Oklahoma, it could be linked to smoke from possible wildfires.
The NWS has issued fire weather warnings to parts of Oklahoma, as hot temperatures, extremely dry air, and strong winds are expected to heighten the risk of wildfires, which can catch easily and spread rapidly.
What Is PM2.5?
PM2.5 are tiny particles of pollution that are so small—less than 2.5 micrometers, which is smaller than the width of a single strand of hair—they can be unknowingly inhaled, traveling deep into the lungs or bloodstream. This could either trigger or worsen heart or lung conditions, such as asthma—resulting in possible hospitalization—or induce symptoms ranging from chest tightness and shortness of breath to eye, nose, and throat irritation and excessive coughing.
How the EPA Measures Air Quality Across America
The EPA uses the Air Quality Index (AQI) to measure air quality across the U.S. The AQI is a standardized scale from 0 to 500 that ranks the air quality into six categories ranging from good to hazardous, according to the health risk to the public.
- Good 0–50): This means the air quality is satisfactory, and air pollution poses little or no risk to the public.
- Moderate (51–100): The air quality is acceptable, but some pollutants may pose a mild risk to people who are unusually sensitive to air pollution.
- Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups (101–150): People in sensitive groups may begin to experience health effects; the general public is less likely to be affected.
- Unhealthy (151–200): Everyone may start to experience health effects, while sensitive groups may experience more serious effects.
- Very Unhealthy (201–300): This triggers a health alert as everyone may experience more serious health effects.
- Hazardous (301–500): This is an emergency warning as health effects are more likely for everyone, and the entire population is at risk.
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