TOXIC FOG — Thousands warned to stay indoors in Arizona, New Mexico, Texas

High Pollution Risk: Thousands in Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas advised to stay indoors as PM2.5 levels reach “unhealthy”, posing serious health risks, especially for sensitive groups like children, older adults, and those with respiratory or heart conditions.
Indoor Safety Tips: Avoid activities that generate indoor pollution (e.g., burning candles, woodstoves). Use air purifiers or high-efficiency filters to maintain cleaner indoor air.
Health Impacts: Fine particles can penetrate deep into the lungs and bloodstream, causing eye, nose, throat irritation, chest tightness, shortness of breath, and worsening of conditions like asthma or COPD.

Thousands of residents in communities across Arizona (including the Nogales area), New Mexico (including Juárez), and Texas (including El Paso) have been advised to stay inside as fine particles of pollution (PM2.5) reached “unhealthy” levels, as of 3.15 a.m. ET on January 19, 2026.

This information comes from the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) AirNow Map, which uses the Air Quality Index (AQI)—a standardized scale that measures and communicates air quality across the U.S. by categorizing conditions into six levels, from “Good,” “Moderate,” and “Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups” to “Unhealthy” “Very Unhealthy,” and “Hazardous.”

What Causes ‘Unhealthy’ Levels of PM2.5?
The EPA has not established what is causing “unhealthy” levels of PM2.5 across Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas. However, PM2.5 can come from a variety of sources, including dust from unpaved roads and construction sites, smoke from fires or smokestacks, or emissions released from vehicles or power and industrial sites.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/thousands-warned-to-stay-indoors-in-arizona-new-mexico-texas/ar-AA1Uuioc