Unhealthy Air Quality Alert for Denver-Boulder, CO: PM10 Levels Reach 185
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 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 April 6, 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 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, Denver-Boulder.
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 ↗
Related Air Quality
All Air Quality →Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about this EPA air-quality advisory.