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Monitoring Total Particulate Matter

We measure the total particulate mass concentration in the air on a routine basis as well as during incidents that may affect ambient air.

Air Quality Index - AQI

Employee Smoke Alert Los Alamos PM 2.5
24-hour Rolling Average
White Rock PM 2.5
24-hour Rolling Average
The current condition is: Error 0.765 µg/m3 0.5605 µg/m3
Weather Forecast View Los Alamos data View White Rock data

AQI is an index for reporting daily air quality. It tells you how clean or polluted your air is, and what associated health effects might be a concern for you. The AQI focuses on health effects you may experience within a few hours or days after breathing polluted air. EPA calculates the AQI for five major air pollutants regulated by the Clean Air Act.

White Rock PM 2.5: 0.5605 µg/m3 on Monday, February 17, 2025 5:30 PM White Rock PM 2.5: 0.5579 µg/m3 on Monday, February 17, 2025 5:00 PM White Rock PM 2.5: 0.5632 µg/m3 on Monday, February 17, 2025 4:30 PM White Rock PM 2.5: 0.5117 µg/m3 on Monday, February 17, 2025 4:00 PM White Rock PM 2.5: 0.5008 µg/m3 on Monday, February 17, 2025 3:30 PM White Rock PM 2.5: 0.4945 µg/m3 on Monday, February 17, 2025 3:00 PM White Rock PM 2.5: 0.4644 µg/m3 on Monday, February 17, 2025 2:30 PM White Rock PM 2.5: 0.4466 µg/m3 on Monday, February 17, 2025 2:00 PM White Rock PM 2.5: 0.3884 µg/m3 on Monday, February 17, 2025 1:30 PM White Rock PM 2.5: 0.3562 µg/m3 on Monday, February 17, 2025 1:00 PM White Rock PM 2.5: 0.4042 µg/m3 on Monday, February 17, 2025 12:30 PM White Rock PM 2.5: 0.4728 µg/m3 on Monday, February 17, 2025 12:00 PM White Rock PM 2.5: 0.4828 µg/m3 on Monday, February 17, 2025 11:30 AM White Rock PM 2.5: 0.423 µg/m3 on Monday, February 17, 2025 11:00 AM White Rock PM 2.5: 0.4162 µg/m3 on Monday, February 17, 2025 10:30 AM White Rock PM 2.5: 0.3905 µg/m3 on Monday, February 17, 2025 10:00 AM White Rock PM 2.5: 0.3781 µg/m3 on Monday, February 17, 2025 9:30 AM White Rock PM 2.5: 0.4056 µg/m3 on Monday, February 17, 2025 9:00 AM White Rock PM 2.5: 0.3883 µg/m3 on Monday, February 17, 2025 8:30 AM White Rock PM 2.5: 0.3544 µg/m3 on Monday, February 17, 2025 8:00 AM White Rock PM 2.5: 0.2394 µg/m3 on Monday, February 17, 2025 7:30 AM White Rock PM 2.5: 0.2261 µg/m3 on Monday, February 17, 2025 7:00 AM White Rock PM 2.5: 0.2269 µg/m3 on Monday, February 17, 2025 6:30 AM White Rock PM 2.5: 0.2469 µg/m3 on Monday, February 17, 2025 6:00 AM White Rock PM 2.5: 0.2337 µg/m3 on Monday, February 17, 2025 5:30 AM White Rock PM 2.5: 0.2428 µg/m3 on Monday, February 17, 2025 5:00 AM White Rock PM 2.5: 0.2117 µg/m3 on Monday, February 17, 2025 4:30 AM White Rock PM 2.5: 0.2205 µg/m3 on Monday, February 17, 2025 4:00 AM White Rock PM 2.5: 0.2264 µg/m3 on Monday, February 17, 2025 3:30 AM White Rock PM 2.5: 0.232 µg/m3 on Monday, February 17, 2025 3:00 AM White Rock PM 2.5: 0.1862 µg/m3 on Monday, February 17, 2025 2:30 AM White Rock PM 2.5: 0.2059 µg/m3 on Monday, February 17, 2025 2:00 AM White Rock PM 2.5: 0.2238 µg/m3 on Monday, February 17, 2025 1:30 AM White Rock PM 2.5: 0.1962 µg/m3 on Monday, February 17, 2025 1:00 AM White Rock PM 2.5: 0.246 µg/m3 on Monday, February 17, 2025 12:30 AM White Rock PM 2.5: 0.2852 µg/m3 on Monday, February 17, 2025 12:00 AM White Rock PM 2.5: 0.2919 µg/m3 on Sunday, February 16, 2025 11:30 PM White Rock PM 2.5: 0.3347 µg/m3 on Sunday, February 16, 2025 11:00 PM White Rock PM 2.5: 0.2626 µg/m3 on Sunday, February 16, 2025 10:30 PM White Rock PM 2.5: 0.3151 µg/m3 on Sunday, February 16, 2025 10:00 PM White Rock PM 2.5: 0.3601 µg/m3 on Sunday, February 16, 2025 9:30 PM White Rock PM 2.5: 0.3507 µg/m3 on Sunday, February 16, 2025 9:00 PM White Rock PM 2.5: 0.3869 µg/m3 on Sunday, February 16, 2025 8:30 PM White Rock PM 2.5: 0.3639 µg/m3 on Sunday, February 16, 2025 8:00 PM White Rock PM 2.5: 0.3729 µg/m3 on Sunday, February 16, 2025 7:30 PM White Rock PM 2.5: 0.5071 µg/m3 on Sunday, February 16, 2025 7:00 PM White Rock PM 2.5: 0.5272 µg/m3 on Sunday, February 16, 2025 6:30 PM White Rock PM 2.5: 0.5521 µg/m3 on Sunday, February 16, 2025 6:00 PM Los Alamos PM 2.5: 0.765 µg/m3 on Monday, February 17, 2025 5:00 PM Los Alamos PM 2.5: 0.7465 µg/m3 on Monday, February 17, 2025 4:30 PM Los Alamos PM 2.5: 0.7324 µg/m3 on Monday, February 17, 2025 4:00 PM Los Alamos PM 2.5: 0.7158 µg/m3 on Monday, February 17, 2025 3:30 PM Los Alamos PM 2.5: 0.6939 µg/m3 on Monday, February 17, 2025 3:00 PM Los Alamos PM 2.5: 0.6762 µg/m3 on Monday, February 17, 2025 2:30 PM Los Alamos PM 2.5: 0.6556 µg/m3 on Monday, February 17, 2025 2:00 PM Los Alamos PM 2.5: 0.6658 µg/m3 on Monday, February 17, 2025 1:30 PM Los Alamos PM 2.5: 0.6672 µg/m3 on Monday, February 17, 2025 1:00 PM Los Alamos PM 2.5: 0.7047 µg/m3 on Monday, February 17, 2025 12:30 PM Los Alamos PM 2.5: 0.7286 µg/m3 on Monday, February 17, 2025 12:00 PM Los Alamos PM 2.5: 0.7325 µg/m3 on Monday, February 17, 2025 11:30 AM Los Alamos PM 2.5: 0.7222 µg/m3 on Monday, February 17, 2025 11:00 AM Los Alamos PM 2.5: 0.7337 µg/m3 on Monday, February 17, 2025 10:30 AM Los Alamos PM 2.5: 0.7586 µg/m3 on Monday, February 17, 2025 10:00 AM Los Alamos PM 2.5: 0.7792 µg/m3 on Monday, February 17, 2025 9:30 AM Los Alamos PM 2.5: 0.7829 µg/m3 on Monday, February 17, 2025 9:00 AM Los Alamos PM 2.5: 0.7835 µg/m3 on Monday, February 17, 2025 8:30 AM Los Alamos PM 2.5: 0.7892 µg/m3 on Monday, February 17, 2025 8:00 AM Los Alamos PM 2.5: 0.7272 µg/m3 on Monday, February 17, 2025 7:30 AM Los Alamos PM 2.5: 0.6885 µg/m3 on Monday, February 17, 2025 7:00 AM Los Alamos PM 2.5: 0.685 µg/m3 on Monday, February 17, 2025 6:30 AM Los Alamos PM 2.5: 0.6688 µg/m3 on Monday, February 17, 2025 6:00 AM Los Alamos PM 2.5: 0.6585 µg/m3 on Monday, February 17, 2025 5:30 AM Los Alamos PM 2.5: 0.6697 µg/m3 on Monday, February 17, 2025 5:00 AM Los Alamos PM 2.5: 0.6604 µg/m3 on Monday, February 17, 2025 4:30 AM Los Alamos PM 2.5: 0.6631 µg/m3 on Monday, February 17, 2025 4:00 AM Los Alamos PM 2.5: 0.6708 µg/m3 on Monday, February 17, 2025 3:30 AM Los Alamos PM 2.5: 0.6701 µg/m3 on Monday, February 17, 2025 3:00 AM Los Alamos PM 2.5: 0.6736 µg/m3 on Monday, February 17, 2025 2:30 AM Los Alamos PM 2.5: 0.7004 µg/m3 on Monday, February 17, 2025 2:00 AM Los Alamos PM 2.5: 0.7011 µg/m3 on Monday, February 17, 2025 1:30 AM Los Alamos PM 2.5: 0.7028 µg/m3 on Monday, February 17, 2025 1:00 AM Los Alamos PM 2.5: 0.7099 µg/m3 on Monday, February 17, 2025 12:30 AM Los Alamos PM 2.5: 0.673 µg/m3 on Monday, February 17, 2025 12:00 AM Los Alamos PM 2.5: 0.6945 µg/m3 on Sunday, February 16, 2025 11:30 PM Los Alamos PM 2.5: 0.7007 µg/m3 on Sunday, February 16, 2025 11:00 PM Los Alamos PM 2.5: 0.6739 µg/m3 on Sunday, February 16, 2025 10:30 PM Los Alamos PM 2.5: 0.6566 µg/m3 on Sunday, February 16, 2025 10:00 PM Los Alamos PM 2.5: 0.6903 µg/m3 on Sunday, February 16, 2025 9:30 PM Los Alamos PM 2.5: 0.6621 µg/m3 on Sunday, February 16, 2025 9:00 PM Los Alamos PM 2.5: 0.6006 µg/m3 on Sunday, February 16, 2025 8:30 PM Los Alamos PM 2.5: 0.5982 µg/m3 on Sunday, February 16, 2025 8:00 PM Los Alamos PM 2.5: 0.6245 µg/m3 on Sunday, February 16, 2025 7:30 PM Los Alamos PM 2.5: 0.631 µg/m3 on Sunday, February 16, 2025 7:00 PM Los Alamos PM 2.5: 0.5887 µg/m3 on Sunday, February 16, 2025 6:30 PM Los Alamos PM 2.5: 0.5488 µg/m3 on Sunday, February 16, 2025 6:00 PM
Air Quality and Work Activity Guidance

The air quality guidance below is published by the New Mexico Environmental Department. Work activity guidance has also been added by LANL's ADESH Directorate.

  • Indoor PM 2.5 equivalent particulate levels are normally 70-80% of outdoor levels unless HEPA filtered.
  • Health Levels are based on total PM 2.5.
  • All health related impacts are generalized and an individual's response to smoke may vary.
  • Managers and employees are encouraged to work together to assess any localized health risks that may result from exposure to ambient smoke and employee work activities, particularly with employees with preexisting health conditions as discussed in the chart below.
Condition Concentration PM 2.5 (µg/m3
24-hour average)
Air Quality Index Cautionary Statements Recommendations for Outdoor Work Activities
Good 0-12.0 0-50 None. None.
Moderate 12.1-35.4 51-100 Unusually sensitive people should consider reducing prolonged or heavy exertion. None.
Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups 35.5-55.4 101-150 Sensitive groups or individuals with preexisting conditions with heart or lung disease ( i.e. asthma), older adults, and children should reduce prolonged or heavy exertion. Sensitive individuals or individuals with preexisting health conditions aggravated by smoke are responsible for determining and moderating outdoor work effort/activity level.
Unhealthy 55.5-150.4 151-200 People with heart or lung disease, older adults, and children should avoid prolonged or heavy exertion.

Everyone else should reduce prolonged or heavy exertion.
Restrict outdoor work activities to light activity: i.e. light manual work with hands or arms, occasional walking.

Restrict Indoor and outdoor exercise and activity (Wellness Center closure).
Very Unhealthy 150.5-250.4 201-300 People with heart or lung disease ( i.e. asthma), older adults, and children should avoid all physical activity outdoors.

Everyone else should avoid prolonged or heavy exertion.
Hazardous 250.5-500.4 301-500 People with heart or lung disease ( i.e. asthma), older adults, and children remain indoors and keep activity levels low.

Everyone else should avoid all physical activity outdoors.
Wildfire Guidance

To address potential work time exposures to ambient particulate (smoke) generated from wild fires, the following guidance is offered:

  • Particulate from forest fires tend to be very small (0.4-0.7micrometers) and can add to or exacerbate many health conditions.
  • LANL currently measures ambient particulate levels in the Los Alamos town site at Los Alamos Medical Center and in White Rock using PM 2.5 micron, monitoring methods.
  • These monitoring results include contributions from smoke related particulate matter.
  • Rolling 24-hour PM 2.5 averages are updated every 30 minutes.
Learn more about Particulate Matter Sampling

LANL monitors the composition of particulate matter and volatile organic compounds in the ambient atmosphere in Los Alamos County and to provide better background data for these types of constituents for use in the event of an emergency. Data are downloaded from Tapered Element Oscillating Microbalance (TEOM) samplers every hour. In order to provide the most current data possible, the data have not been fully validated and verified. Two TEOM samplers are present at each sampling site:

  • PM 2.5
    • Used for measuring particulate matter less than 2.5 micrometers in diameter.
    • PM 2.5 measurements represent fine particles that are inhaled deeply into the lung. Sources of these fine particles include internal combustion engines, forest fires, power plants, and atmospheric processes such as condensation and smog formation.
  • PM 10
    • Used for measuring particulate matter less than 10 micrometers in diameter.
    • PM 10 measurements include the PM 2.5 particles and larger particles such as those produced from “mechanical” disturbances such as unpaved roads, construction activities, material handling, and wind storms.
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