Air Quality Alert: El Paso, TX Reaches Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups Level (AQI 139)
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 February 16, 2026, air quality in El Paso, TX reached an AQI of 139, categorized as Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups, with PM10 identified 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 6, 2026 and geographically references El Paso, TX. 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 is the authoritative source for updates.
Most readers skim a notice like this, check whether they are personally affected, and move on. The more useful lens is to verify its scope, source, and timestamp, then compare related notices without assuming that one record proves a broader trend.
Areazine pairs this record with the original agency URL so you can check the primary source before acting. Its related labels are air-quality, epa, aqi, El Paso.
Current Air Quality
As of February 16, 2026, the reporting area of El Paso, TX is experiencing air quality levels categorized as Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups. The primary pollutant of concern is PM10, which has reached an Air Quality Index (AQI) of 139. Other measured pollutants include PM2.5 with an AQI of 72 (Moderate) and Ozone (O3) with an AQI of 35 (Good).
What This Means
An AQI level of 139 falls into the "Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups" category. According to standard EPA guidance, this indicates that air quality is unhealthy for members of sensitive groups, though the general public is less likely to be affected by these conditions.
Who Should Take Precautions
Groups at increased risk from this level of particle pollution (PM10) include:
- People with heart or lung disease
- Older adults
- Children and teenagers
What You Should Do
Members of sensitive groups should take the following precautions to protect their health:
- Reduce prolonged or heavy exertion outdoors.
- Take more breaks during outdoor activities.
- Watch for symptoms such as coughing or shortness of breath.
The general public is less likely to be affected and may continue normal outdoor activities.
Source
Data provided by EPA AirNow.
Original source: EPA Official Notice ↗
Related Air Quality
All Air Quality →Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about this EPA air-quality advisory.