Federal air quality guidance suggests that seniors living in near Tampa, Florida, should stay indoors on Tuesday as the region prepares for worsening air quality that could pose serious health risks to vulnerable populations.
Air quality levels in the Tampa area are expected to fall into the “orange” category on the Air Quality Index (AQI) on Tuesday, indicating conditions that are “unhealthy for sensitive groups,” which includes older adults, children, and individuals with respiratory conditions. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), AQI values in this range can trigger symptoms such as shortness of breath, coughing, and exacerbation of chronic heart and lung diseases.
Newsweek reached out to Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) by email for comment.
Why It Matters
The forecast coincides with a broader national trend in air quality deterioration. A recent report from the American Lung Association (ALA) found that 156.1 million Americans—46 percent of the population—now live in counties with failing grades for ozone or particulate pollution, a 25 million increase from the previous year.
What to Know
The Tampa metropolitan area, home to approximately 403,000 residents, includes more than 50,000 people aged 65 or older—representing about 13 percent of the local population, according to U.S. Census data. The EPA’s AQI forecast for Tuesday anticipates this demographic could be susceptible to complications from poor air quality.
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While orange AQI conditions do not automatically trigger air quality alerts, they represent a threshold where health officials recommend that at-risk populations take preventive action.
Medical experts have long warned that ozone exposure can lead to decreased lung function, inflamed airways, and increased susceptibility to respiratory infections. These effects are particularly dangerous for older adults, whose immune systems are typically weaker and may already be coping with other conditions.
The EPA’s updated guidelines classify AQI values of 101 to 150 as orange. Under these conditions, children and adults with lung disease and older individuals should limit prolonged outdoor exertion. People with asthma are at a higher risk for attacks and may require more frequent use of inhalers.
EPA’s forecast anticipates Florida is the only state facing these conditions on Tuesday. Numerous other states are facing moderate air quality, in which “air quality is acceptable. However, there may be a risk for some people, particularly those who are unusually sensitive to air pollution.”
What People Are Saying
Katherine Pruitt, senior director of Nationwide Clean Air Policy at the ALA, previously told Newsweek: “The Air Quality Index’s health advisory messages for sensitive groups can only be effective if people living with conditions that make them more vulnerable to health harm from air pollution recognize themselves as part of a sensitive group and take appropriate precautions. Research has shown that is not necessarily the case.”
The ALA’s State of Air 2025 report said: “Extreme heat, drought and wildfires are contributing to worsening levels of air pollution across much of the U.S., exposing a growing proportion of the population to ozone and particle pollution that put their health at risk.”
What Happens Next
Air quality officials will monitor the situation closely and issue air quality alerts if the situation calls for it. The EPA has encouraged individuals to use the AirNow mobile app or website for real-time air quality updates in their area.