Four US states under ‘stay indoor' warning as Canadian wildfires smoke worsens air quality; check list and ‘Red warning'
As air quality advisories continue to engulf the Midwest following Canada wildfires, hundreds of thousands of people in four states have been told to stay indoors.
According to the EPA's (Environmental Protection Agency) AirNow map, which provides a real-time view of air quality, air pollution rates across Minnesota and portions of Michigan, Wisconsin, and Iowa are considered 'unhealthy' on Wednesday.
The EPA and the National meteorological Service (NWS) advised people to limit their exposure to outdoor air following the deterioration of air quality due to wildfires and current meteorological conditions, which have pushed pollution levels into hazardous area in numerous cities.
The continuous warnings highlight the dangers smoke and air pollution cause to human health, particularly for vulnerable populations including kids, the elderly, and those with heart or respiratory disorders.
This week's wildfires in Minnesota have contributed to the destruction already done by a series of wildfires that burned over 35,000 acres of land last month.
The last few days have seen terrible air quality throughout Minnesota, Iowa and Wisconsin.
Also Read: US alerts citizens on 'dating app dangers' after kidnapping of Americans in Mexico; Check key guidelines here
With Air Quality Index (AQI) readings ranging from 151-200 (see below), Wisconsin cities like Eau Claire, La Crosse, and Green Bay have been put under a red warning.
The red warning indicates that while individuals of sensitive groups could face more severe health problems, some members of the general public may encounter 'health effects.'
The red alert is in effect for Menominee and Iron Mountain in Michigan, Rochester and a portion of Minneapolis in Minnesota, and Mason City in Iowa.
In the meantime, the NWS has Air Quality Advisories to millions of people in Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, Iowa, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, New Hampshire, and Maine.
According to several state-specific alerts, people should 'consider limiting strenuous outdoor physical activity to reduce the risk of adverse health effects.'
It also stated that one should think about reducing the intensity and time spent in outdoor activities in case of symptoms like coughing, shortness of breath, throat irritation, or a discomfort in chest.
For up-to-date alerts and health advice, residents are encouraged to stay informed through local weather channels and EPA's AirNow website.
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Among them are books, including the one she co-wrote, "Good Energy"; a walking pad; soap; body oil; hair products; cardamom-flavored dental floss; organic jojoba oil; a razor set; reusable kitchen products; sunglasses; a sleep mask; a silk pillowcase; fitness and sleep trackers; protein powder and supplements. She also has shared links to products sold by other companies that included "affiliate" or "partner" coding, indicating she has a business relationship with the companies. The products include an AI-powered sleep system and Daily Harvest, for which she curated a "metabolic health collection." On a "My Faves" page that was taken down from her website shortly after Trump picked her, Means wrote that some links "are affiliate links and I make a small percentage if you buy something after clicking them." It's not clear how much money Means has earned from her affiliate marketing, partnerships and other agreements. 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