Air Quality Alert: Albuquerque, NM Reaches Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups Level
Areazine synthesizes this EPA air-quality advisory directly from EPA's official public data feed. See our methodology for full source attribution and refresh cadence.
On March 17, 2026, Albuquerque, NM recorded an air quality index of 113, categorized as Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups, with PM10 as the primary pollutant.
What this EPA air-quality advisory tells you, and what most readers miss
This notice was issued by EPA on April 3, 2026 and geographically references Albuquerque, NM. Its severity classification of "low" signals how the issuing agency weighs the risk of harm if no action is taken - "critical" and "high" tier alerts typically carry direct consumer actions, while "medium" and "low" tend toward informational guidance or monitoring advisories. The category it belongs to - Air Quality - determines the informational context it sits in, and which agency or body publishes updates on it.
It is tempting to skim, check personal relevance, and move on. The better habit is confirming scope, source, and timestamp first, then reading this alongside related notices instead of drawing a conclusion from one record alone.
Before acting, the primary agency source is available to check alongside this summary. Its related labels are air-quality, epa, aqi, Albuquerque.
Current Air Quality
In Albuquerque, NM, the air quality has reached a level of 113 on the Air Quality Index (AQI) as of March 17, 2026. The primary pollutant of concern is PM10, which is currently in the "Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups" category. Other measured pollutants include PM2.5 with an AQI of 73 (Moderate) and Ozone (O3) with an AQI of 8 (Good).
What This Means
An AQI of 113 is classified as "Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups." At this level, members of sensitive groups may experience health effects, though the general public is less likely to be affected.
Who Should Take Precautions
Groups at risk include people with heart or lung disease, older adults, children, and teenagers. These individuals are more likely to be affected by particle pollution (PM10).
What You Should Do
Sensitive groups should reduce prolonged or heavy exertion and take more breaks during outdoor activities. The general public is not likely to be affected and can continue normal activities.
Source
Data provided by EPA AirNow.
Original source: EPA Official Notice ↗
Related Air Quality
All Air Quality →Comparable nationwide notices (length or severity timing) 8
Two Areazine-derived peer sets for this EPA air-quality advisory: nearest notices by body length and by same severity near the same agency date. Peers come from other categories so they are not the same-feed Related list above.
Similar body length
Nearest notices by article body length (1,041 characters here).
Similar severity timing
Same severity (low) notices issued closest in time to April 3, 2026.
What People Ask
Common questions about this EPA air-quality advisory.