The Air Quality Index in Santa Clara has gotten worse, not better.
As of 7:00 p.m. ET, the AQI in Santa Clara was at 199 due to wildfires in the aea. That’s only one point below the level at which the NFL would deem the conditions unsafe. (Earlier in the day, it was above 200.)
Conditions and forecasts have changed dramatically for the area in the past day. As of Thursday, the AQI was expected to be in the 80s for Sunday.
The NFL’s policy on this issue reads as follows:
“Air quality is an important aspect of a safe game day environment. Many factors can affect air quality including temperature, humidity, local pollution from combustion engines, wildfires, volcanic activity, and industrial accidents. The biggest health risk occurs when levels of particulate matter rise to a level that can irritate the airways and cause breathing problems, especially during exercise.
“The most widely accepted scientific assessment measure for air quality is the Air Quality Index (‘AQI’). Medical experts have generally agreed that an AQI that consistently measures over 200 in the immediate vicinity of the stadium signifies very unhealthy conditions in which vigorous exercise is not recommended. The AQI is easily measured and widely available to the public through media sources.
