Albuquerque, NM Air Quality Alert: PM10 Levels Reach Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups

Source: EPA · Albuquerque, NM

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 9, 2026, Albuquerque, NM recorded an AQI of 116, 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 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 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, Albuquerque.

Current Air Quality

In Albuquerque, NM, the air quality index (AQI) reached a peak of 116 on March 9, 2026. This reading is categorized as Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups. The primary pollutant of concern is PM10. Other measured pollutants include PM2.5 with an AQI of 61 (Moderate) and Ozone (O3) with an AQI of 27 (Good).

What This Means

An AQI level between 101 and 150 indicates that air quality is Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups. According to standard EPA categories, this means that while the general public is not likely to be affected, members of sensitive groups may experience health effects.

Who Should Take Precautions

Groups at higher risk include people with heart or lung disease, older adults, and children. These individuals are more susceptible to the effects of elevated PM10 levels.

What You Should Do

People in sensitive groups should consider reducing prolonged or heavy outdoor exertion. It is advisable to monitor for symptoms such as coughing or shortness of breath. The general public is not expected to need changes to their outdoor activities at this time.

Source

Data provided by EPA AirNow.

Original source: EPA Official Notice ↗

All Air Quality →

Nationwide notices with similar 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.

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about this EPA air-quality advisory.

What is this EPA air-quality advisory about?
On March 9, 2026, Albuquerque, NM recorded an AQI of 116, categorized as Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups, with PM10 identified as the primary pollutant.
Which agency issued this alert?
This alert was issued by EPA. The original notice is available at the source link at the bottom of this article.
How severe is this alert?
This alert is classified as "low" severity. No immediate action required, but stay aware.
What area is affected?
This alert affects Albuquerque, NM. Check with EPA for the most current geographic scope.
Where can I find more Air Quality updates?
Browse the full Air Quality feed on Areazine at areazine.com/air-quality/ for the latest updates from EPA and other agencies.