Children Advised Against Going Outside in Parts of North Carolina
Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content.
Children and other sensitive groups are being urged to limit outdoor activity Tuesday in Jones County, North Carolina, where the state's Department of Environmental and Natural Resources has issued a Code Orange Air Quality Action Day as a large wildfire burns in the area.
Why It Matters
Health officials have emphasized that sensitive groups—including children, older adults, and people with preexisting respiratory conditions—are particularly at risk during periods of poor air quality.
What To Know
The Air Quality Index (AQI), which measures pollution, was forecast to reach the "unhealthy for sensitive groups category" in Jones County on Tuesday, with a value of 140, which is at the higher range of a Code Orange—a value over 150 is a Code Red, air quality that is unhealthy for everyone.
The AQI's Code Orange says "older adults, children, active people, and those with heart or lung disease may experience health effects" and advises those groups to "limit prolonged or heavy exertion outdoors."
According to officials, smoke from the Black Swamp fire prompted the alert.
Officials noted that the fire had burned more than 850 acres in the Croatan National Forest. Satellite imagery has detected a visible smoke plume, and an inversion is forecasted to trap smoke near the surface through Tuesday morning, worsening air quality conditions.
A temperature inversion occurs when a layer of warmer air sits above a layer of cooler air near the ground, reversing the normal temperature pattern (where air usually gets colder with altitude). This "inverted" layer acts like a lid, trapping the cooler air—and whatever pollutants it contains—close to the surface.
Elsewhere in the state, yellow pollution levels were forecast in areas like Charlotte, Fayetteville, and Raleigh, where moderate air quality issues may still affect residents.
A Code Yellow air quality alert signifies that the Air Quality Index is in the range of 51 to 100, indicating "Moderate" air quality. This level is generally acceptable for the general population; however, individuals who are unusually sensitive to air pollution may experience mild health effects.
What People Are Saying
Professor of pediatric respiratory and environmental medicine Jonathan Grigg, with Queen Mary, University of London told Newsweek: "There are vulnerable groups and classically they are children because they've got an extra issue to do with their lungs developing, whereas our lungs are not developing as adults.
"Their trajectory can be deviated so they don't actually achieve their maximum lung function."
There are also "very clear links" between inhaling particles and earlier death from both respiratory and cardiovascular diseases, Grigg said.
Additionally, Grigg said conditions such as asthma are also exacerbated by exposure to air pollution.
What Happens Next
At the time of writing, the Code Orange Air Quality Action Day was in effect until midnight.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Newsweek
2 minutes ago
- Newsweek
Tropical Storm Erin Spaghetti Models as Storm Path Shifts
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Tropical Storm Erin's path has changed slightly, prompting concern that the storm is heading toward the United States even as National Hurricane Center (NHC) experts said it's still too soon to tell what impacts, if any, Erin will cause. Why It Matters Meteorologists have been tracking Tropical Storm Erin, which originated as a tropical wave off the western coast of Africa, for days. The tropical storm formed late Monday morning. Originally, forecast models showed the storm making a northward turn away from the U.S. Now, models have shifted south, increasing the chances that Erin, which is expected to become a major hurricane this weekend, will make landfall on the U.S. East Coast. What To Know Most spaghetti models, or computer models that illustrate potential storm paths, still show the storm taking a northward turn. However, the storm's path has shifted south, meaning some of its impacts could reach land, including the U.S. "I still think the most likely scenario is a track somewhere between the Outer Banks [of North Carolina] and Bermuda," AccuWeather Lead Hurricane Expert Alex DaSilva told Newsweek. "However, due to the fact that this storm has been moving a little further south and west, that can certainly increase the chance it can come closer to the United States." Erin could become a major hurricane, a designation that occurs when a storm's wind speeds reach 111 mph or higher, classified as Category 3. Should it strengthen as meteorologists expect, Erin could become not only the first hurricane but also the first major hurricane of the season. An updated forecast map for Tropical Storm Erin. An updated forecast map for Tropical Storm Erin. National Hurricane Center The timeline for Erin's strengthening also has changed. Current forecasts anticipate Erin becoming a hurricane by Thursday evening and a major hurricane by Sunday morning. Previously, experts believed it would become a hurricane on Wednesday and a major hurricane on Saturday. On Tuesday, meteorologist Matt Velocity warned that the longer it takes the storm to intensify, the further west it will travel. "TROPICAL STORM ERIN is continuing to trend west, increasing chances of some sort of US impact," Velocity posted on X. "The longer Erin struggles to intensify, the further west it will travel." The Atlantic hurricane season began on June 1 and runs through November 30. Tropical Storm Erin is the fifth named storm of the season and the second to form this month, following Tropical Storm Dexter, which fizzled out over the ocean in the first week of August. Meteorologists have issued repeated warnings this summer that the Atlantic hurricane season has not yet reached its peak, which typically happens around mid-September. "As we approach the climatological peak of the hurricane season, this is an opportune time to ensure your preparedness plans are in place," the NHC said in a key message about Erin. What People Are Saying The National Hurricane Center, in a key message about Tropical Storm Erin: "Although it is still too early to know exactly what impacts Erin might bring to the northern Leeward Islands, the Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico, the risk has increased for Erin to move closer to these islands over the weekends. Interests there should monitor the progress of this storm." The message added: "There is even greater uncertainty in what impacts, if any, might occur in portions of the Greater Antilles, the Bahamas, the east coast of the United States, and Bermuda next week." What Happens Next Meteorologists will continue tracking the storm as it develops. No coastal hazards have been issued, but people in the affected areas should follow local weather guidance.
Newsweek
4 hours ago
- Newsweek
Common Food Bacteria 'Could Transform Nutrition and Medicine'
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Common food bacteria could be rewired to produce more vitamins—and "help to transform nutrition and medicine." This is the discovery of scientists at Rice University who have revealed how a bacterium called Lactococcus lactis regulates the production of a key precursor in the production of vitamin K₂, which is important for bone health, vascular health and clotting factors that stop bleeding. The bacteria create enough of this precursor to support their growth while preventing toxic buildup. "Vitamin-producing microbes could transform nutrition and medicine, but we must first decode their inherent checks and balances," said paper author and biosciences researcher professor Caroline Ajo‑Franklin in a statement. "Our work shows how L. lactis finely tunes its internal supply of the K₂ precursor, allowing us to rewire it with precision." The method could improve supplements and fortified foods and make vitamins cheaper and more environmentally friendly. Digital 3D illustration of probiotic bacteria. Digital 3D illustration of probiotic microbes to overproduce vitamins provides a greener and more cost-effective alternative to chemical synthesis or extraction from plants and animals, the researchers said. However, bacterial cells typically limit their production to self-sustaining levels. By dissecting the control system for the vitamin K₂ (also known as menaquinone) precursor, the study authors have identified how "substrate availability" and "genetic architecture" impose a production ceiling and how those limits can be lifted. The study focuses on the "unstable intermediate compound" that channels all forms of vitamin K₂. "A vitamin K₂ deficiency usually manifests as a propensity for excess bleeding, bruising and potentially gastrointestinal bleeding," Ajo‑Franklin told Newsweek. "It can be particularly hazardous for newborns, who can experience intracranial bleeding. As a result, it is standard care in the United States for all babies to receive a vitamin K₂ shot at birth. "A vitamin K deficiency can be caused by insufficient consumption of fermented food (natto, sauerkraut, cheeses, etc.) and animal products like egg yolks, fatty fish, or diseases/conditions that impair the body's ability to absorb vitamin K₂ in the gut, like celiac disease, cystic fibrosis or extended use of antibiotics. She added: "Vegan diets can be low in K₂ unless supplemented." Closed up shot of woman's hand taking supplement capsule. Closed up shot of woman's hand taking supplement researchers used a three-prong approach in their investigation, including biosensing (a device that can detect biological substances), genetic engineering and mathematical modeling. They built a custom biosensor in a different bacterium to help detect the precursor—thousands of times more sensitive than conventional methods and requiring minimal lab equipment. Next, they used the genetic tools to alter the levels of enzymes in the biosynthetic pathway. By measuring precursor output under different conditions, they fed the results into a mathematical model of the pathway. At first, the model assumed an unlimited precursor supply, but predictions didn't align with laboratory results. "Once we allowed for depletion of the starting substrate, the model output matched our experimental data," said paper author and computational systems biologist Oleg Igoshin, study author in a statement. "It became clear that cells hit a natural production ceiling when the substrate runs low." Just overexpressing pathway enzymes did not increase output beyond the threshold, however, because precursor materials became limited. The researchers compared this to attempting to bake more cookies with extra baking sheets, but without enough flour. However, the order of enzyme-encoding genes on DNA also influenced precursor levels. They found rearranging these genes altered how much intermediate the cell produced, suggesting an additional layer of "evolutionary regulation" that has not been well understood. "By tuning substrate supply, enzyme expression and gene order simultaneously, we can push production above the natural ceiling," said paper author and biochemist Siliang Li, in a statement. This opens the door to engineering L. lactis or other food-grade bacteria to produce more vitamin K₂ in fermentation processes in probiotic formulations, the researchers said. L. lactis, Ajo‑Franklin explained, "is also a probiotic bacterium, meaning that it promotes a healthy gut. It is found in a variety of fermented foods, most notably cheese and yogurt." "We've figured out how to reprogram the cells to make more vitamin K₂ with the natural enzymes they produce. We discovered the cells are very carefully controlling the production of vitamin K₂ through two overlapping control mechanisms. With this understanding, we can now predict what changes we need to make to override that control. "Previous efforts were only partially successful because they didn't know about both control points." Ajo‑Franklin added that it could lower the cost of current vitamin K₂ production. "Additionally, being able to produce vitamin K₂ by bacteria allows you to make it wherever needed, whether that's in space or somewhere on Earth, far away from large manufacturing facilities." If vitamin K₂ is produced by bacteria in the gut, the researchers said there is a possibility of the absorption being more effective than standard vitamin tablets. With Vitamin C and vitamin B₁₂ both currently manufactured using microorganisms, the researchers said a similar approach might enable them to make higher levels of these vitamins too. Do you have a tip on a health story that Newsweek should be covering? Do you have a question about vitamins? Let us know via health@ Reference Li, S., Zhang, J., Ajo-Franklin, C. M., & Igoshin, O. A. (2025). The growth benefits and toxicity of quinone biosynthesis are balanced by a dual regulatory mechanism and substrate limitations. mBio.
Newsweek
4 hours ago
- Newsweek
Tropical Storm Erin Update as Chances of US Landfall Increase
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. A National Hurricane Center (NHC) forecast warned that Tropical Storm Erin is expected to strengthen into a hurricane in the coming days as it treks westward across the Atlantic Ocean as the chances of a U.S. landfall have increased slightly. Why It Matters The Atlantic hurricane season began on June 1 and runs through November 30. Tropical Storm Erin is the fifth named storm of the season and the second to form this month, following Tropical Storm Dexter, which fizzled out over the ocean in the first week of August. Erin could become a major hurricane, a designation that occurs when a storm's wind speeds reach 111 mph or higher, classified as a Category 3 hurricane. Should it strengthen as meteorologists expect, Erin could become not only the first hurricane but also the first major hurricane of the season. What To Know Tropical Storm Erin formed on Monday morning. Meteorologists had been tracking the storm, which originated as a tropical wave off the western coast of Africa, for days. As of Tuesday morning, Erin's maximum sustained windspeeds were measured at 45 mph, with stronger gusts. A forecast map from the NHC shows that Tropical Storm Erin's path has shifted slightly south. A forecast map from the NHC shows that Tropical Storm Erin's path has shifted slightly south. National Hurricane Center A forecast map from the NHC anticipates the storm will become a hurricane by Thursday morning. Further strengthening is expected, with Erin intensifying into a major hurricane by late Saturday morning. A major hurricane forms once the hurricane becomes a Category 3 storm, in which windspeeds are measured at 111 mph or greater. Shortly after Erin formed on Monday, Max Velocity, a meteorologist with 1.3 million subscribers on YouTube, shared the NHC forecast map in a post on X, formerly Twitter. "BREAKING: Tropical Storm Erin has been born, and we now have our first look at where the NHC believes this system could go," he wrote with the post. "We cannot completely rule out a US landfall, and the NHC expects this to become a MAJOR hurricane." BREAKING: Tropical Storm Erin has been born, and we now have our first look at where the NHC believes this system could go. We cannot completely rule out a US landfall, and the NHC expects this to become a MAJOR hurricane. — Max Velocity (@MaxVelocityWX) August 11, 2025 Later in the evening on Monday, Velocity published another post about how forecast models are shifting for Tropical Storm Erin. "Though the odds are low of a US landfall, it CANNOT be ruled out still. This will likely become a major hurricane," he posted. "Even if this doesn't make landfall, a close approach would still cause some problems. Still a very large spread, and details remain unclear. As it develops, the track will become clearer." Models are shifting WEST for Tropical Storm Erin, which will shortly become Hurricane Erin. Though the odds are low of a US landfall, it CANNOT be ruled out still. This will likely become a major hurricane. Even if this doesn't make landfall, a close approach would still cause… — Max Velocity (@MaxVelocityWX) August 12, 2025 AccuWeather Lead Hurricane Expert Alex DaSilva told Newsweek that there has been a southward shift in some of the forecast models, which moves the storm closer to the Leeward Islands and Puerto Rico. Those areas could see between 1 to 2 inches of rain as the storm passes by. "Since the trend has been further south, that does increase the chance slightly of a U.S. landfall," DaSilva said. Even if the storm doesn't make landfall, some impacts could still be felt on the East Coast, such as dangerous rip currents. As of Tuesday morning, there are no hazards affecting land and no watches or warnings in effect for coastal areas. What People Are Saying DaSilva told Newsweek: "I still think the most likely scenario is a track somewhere between the Outer Banks [of North Carolina] and Bermuda. DaSilva added: "However, due to the fact that this storm has been moving a little further south and west, that can certainly increase the chance it can come closer to the United States." NHC in a recent key message issued for Tropical Storm Erin: "It is still too early to determine what impacts, if any, Erin may bring to the northern Leeward Islands, Bermuda, or the east coast of the United States. As we approach the climatological peak of the hurricane season, this is an opportune time to ensure your preparedness plans are in place." What Happens Next Erin could become a hurricane as soon as Thursday morning. People in nearby areas, such as the Leeward Islands and the East Coast, should monitor local weather guidance as the storm develops.
