Unhealthy Air Quality Alert for Denver-Boulder, CO: PM10 Levels Reach 185

Source: EPA · Denver-Boulder, CO

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On February 26, 2026, air quality in the Denver-Boulder area reached Unhealthy levels, with PM10 recorded at an AQI of 185.

What this EPA air-quality advisory tells you, and what most readers miss

This notice was issued by EPA on February 28, 2026 and geographically references Denver-Boulder, CO. Its severity classification of "medium" 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 regulatory framework behind it, which shapes what remedies (refunds, replacements, recalls, evacuations) are available to affected individuals and who holds statutory responsibility for enforcement.

Most readers skim a notice like this, check whether they are personally affected, and move on. The more useful lens is to read it as a data point about the issuing system: how quickly EPA detected the hazard, how precise the geographic or product-identifier scope is, and whether similar notices have clustered in the same category or region in the last 90 days. Cluster patterns frequently precede a broader regulatory action — a single localized EPA air-quality advisory is isolated; three of them within a quarter often indicate a supply-chain, infrastructure, or seasonal driver that will keep producing notices until something structural changes.

For decision-making, Areazine pairs each alert with the original agency URL, the full agency name, and a timestamp so you can verify the notice against the primary source before acting on it. Tags on this item (air-quality, epa, aqi, Denver-Boulder) map to related alerts in the same area of risk — browsing them together gives a clearer picture than any single notice alone, because the shape of an ongoing issue only becomes visible across multiple sequential alerts.

Current Air Quality

On February 26, 2026, the Denver-Boulder, CO reporting area recorded an Air Quality Index (AQI) of 185, placing the region in the Unhealthy category. The primary pollutant of concern is PM10. Other pollutants measured in the area include Ozone (O3) with an AQI of 51 (Moderate) and Fine Particulate Matter (PM2.5) with an AQI of 58 (Moderate).

What This Means

An AQI in the 'Unhealthy' range (151-200) indicates that the air quality is reaching levels where the general public may begin to experience health effects. Members of sensitive groups are likely to experience more serious health effects than the general population.

Who Should Take Precautions

While the entire population may be affected, the following groups are at higher risk and should take specific precautions:

  • People with heart or lung disease
  • Older adults
  • Children and teenagers

What You Should Do

To reduce exposure and protect your health, the following guidance is recommended:

  • For sensitive groups: Avoid prolonged or heavy exertion. Consider moving activities indoors or rescheduling them to a time when air quality is better.
  • For everyone else: Reduce prolonged or heavy exertion. Take more breaks during outdoor activities and limit intense physical labor.

Source

This data is provided by the EPA AirNow service.

Original source: EPA Official Notice ↗

All Air Quality →

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about this EPA air-quality advisory.

What is this EPA air-quality advisory about?
On February 26, 2026, air quality in the Denver-Boulder area reached Unhealthy levels, with PM10 recorded at an AQI of 185.
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 "medium" severity. Stay informed and follow agency guidance.
What area is affected?
This alert affects Denver-Boulder, CO. 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.