Air quality in wildfire-stricken Los Angeles improved on Thursday from hazardous peaks hit earlier this month, as tiny soot particles that can penetrate the lungs and brain dropped to moderate levels,

Dust and ash left behind from the January wildfires in Los Angeles County can be irritating and hazardous to health when it’s picked up by winds and spread throughout Southern California. Windblown dust and ash contain small particles that may cause irritation or exacerbate pre-existing health conditions,

Air quality remains a big concern in Los Angeles County, and not just for those nearby the Palisades and Eaton fires.