Caldor Fire threatens Lake Tahoe area with hazardous air quality levels

The ten most polluted cities in the United States are currently all in California and Nevada as smoke from the massive Caldor Fire lingers over the region, according to airborne pollutant monitoring company IQ Air. 

On Tuesday evening, Tahoe Vista, located along the north shore of Lake Tahoe, had an air quality index score of 415, which is within the highest level of concern and considered "hazardous." The concentration of the main pollutant, PM2.5, in the air is currently 37 times above what is recommended to breathe in by the World Health Organization, according to IQ Air.  Earlier Sunday, Tahoe Vista exceeded the air quality index's total range of 0 to 500 when the area reached a score of 596. Anything above a score of 200 is deemed unhealthy for all groups of people regardless of their health status, senior director of climate and health at the Environmental Defense Fund Dr. Elena Craft said.