Posted by common sense, a resident of the Adobe-Meadows neighborhood, on Feb 1, 2013 at 4:49 pm

Protect all our kids health. Don't light up unless it is really raining.

Posted by Think About It, a resident of the Duveneck/St. Francis neighborhood, on Feb 1, 2013 at 5:38 pm

Whoop-de-doo! Air Quality Index for tomorrow is predicted to be MODERATE!!! So let's ban fires for everybody! Yippee! And please, Spare the Air, declare another one for Superbowl Sunday, and call out all your enforcers so they can add to the pollution and miss the Niners-Ravens Harbaugh Bowl.

And, you tell 'em, "common sense!" And while you're at it, don't forget that common sense is what tells you that the world is flat.

On the other hand, explain why all this money and effort is being wasted on the few fireplaces left, instead of focusing on the serious polluters. Richmond refinery, anybody?

Posted by Anonymous, a resident of Another Palo Alto neighborhood, on Feb 2, 2013 at 8:38 am

@Think About It,

Move to Beijing so you can enjoy more airborne particulates. Saturday's PM2.5 is predicted to be 102. When the air doesn't move, the local sources are more significant.

Posted by Think About It, a resident of the Duveneck/St. Francis neighborhood, on Feb 3, 2013 at 8:54 pm

Geez, Anonymous from somewhere not listed, amazing! Saturday's high index turned out to be 71. That's moderate, and not even moderately high. I somehow don't think Beijing's problems come from fireplaces, Anonymous. Meanwhile, since you're suggesting places for me to go, hows about you move closer to the Richmond refinery, since you think the problem is down here in Palo Alto?

Posted by Disgusted, a resident of another community, on Feb 4, 2013 at 1:36 pm

Don't tell them where you got the correct PM2.5 number of 71 for 2/2/13. They'll shut down that site, too.

Posted by Anonymous, a resident of Another Palo Alto neighborhood, on Feb 4, 2013 at 4:24 pm

The World Health Organization(WHO)

The World Health Organization issued "Air Quality Guidelines" for fine particles in 2005. The recommended standard for PM2.5 is no graeter than 25 micrograms per cubic meter are allowed within the 24-hour period of time, and 10 micrograms per cubic meter are allowed within the aunual period of time.

The United States

The Environmental Protection Agency(EPA) issued PM2.5 concentration standard in 2006, the standard is no greater than 35 micrograms per cubic meter are allowed within the 24-hour period of time. Within the annual period of time, the restriction is no greater than 15 micrograms per cubic meter.