(Another polluted weekend)…Again, long lines to come across the border are being blamed.

The Air Pollution Control District issued Air Quality Alerts all weekend long in the Calexico area. The latest was issued at 4:00 Monday morning. The problem continues to be very high levels of PM 2.5, the finite particulate matter created mostly from vehicle exhaust. That is believed to be the exhaust created by long lines cross the border from Mexicali into Calexico. The cold weather is also a factor. Some residents in Mexicali burn tires and trash during the cold nights to keep warm. The High levels of PM 2.5 is particularly harmful to those with respiratory or heart disease, the elderly and children. By mid morning the levels of PM 2.5 had lowered somewhat. Air Quality was listed as moderate in Calexico and El Centro. Air Quality has been good in Brawley and Niland.