Map Shows 2 States Where Children Warned of Breathing Difficulties
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Air quality alerts continued on Tuesday, with children in two states being warned of "breathing difficulties" if they are exposed to poor air quality.
Weather conditions such as light winds and higher temperatures are causing smoke from Canadian wildfires to settle in Ohio, pushing air quality into the unhealthy range, National Weather Service (NWS) observing program leader Brian Mitchell told Newsweek.
Why It Matters
Smoke from Canadian wildfires prompted widespread air quality alerts across the Upper Midwest, Great Lakes, and Northeast regions over the past few weeks. As of Tuesday, most of the smoke has moved out of the region.
However, air quality alerts remain in parts of Ohio and Arizona for fine particulate matter and ozone pollution, respectively. The Air Quality Index (AQI) is expected to be Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups, which includes children and the elderly, in the affected regions.
What to Know
When inhaled, particles can lodge deep in the lungs and trigger inflammation, while ozone irritates the respiratory system and can exacerbate asthma. Children are particularly vulnerable to the impacts because of their developing respiratory systems and tendency to spend more time outdoors.
In Ohio, the air quality alert was issued by the Northeast Ohio Areawide Coordinating Agency and warns of ground-level fine particles affecting the air quality in Ashtabula, Cuyahoga, Geauga, Lake, Lorain, Medina, Portage and Summit Counties.
A stock image shows a child coughing while outside.
A stock image shows a child coughing while outside.
AaronAmat/Getty
"Air quality levels will be unhealthy for sensitive groups during this period. If you are in the sensitive groups category of children, the elderly and those with breathing difficulties, please monitor your outdoor activity and check air quality readings at airnow.gov."
In Arizona, an Ozone High Pollution Advisory was in place for Maricopa County, including more than a million people who live in the Phoenix metropolitan area. Sunlight can contribute to higher ozone levels, making these alerts more common in the summertime.
"This means that forecast weather conditions combined with existing ozone levels are expected to result in local maximum 8-hour ozone concentrations that pose a health risk. Adverse health effects increase as air quality deteriorates," the alert said. "Ozone is an air contaminant which can cause breathing difficulties for children, older adults, as well as persons with respiratory problems. A decrease in physical activity is recommended."
In both states, people were urged to avoid worsening air quality levels by driving less, not idling in their vehicles, refilling their gas tanks after sunset, and waiting to mow the lawn.
An air quality alert also was in place for parts of Michigan, although people in that state were not warned of breathing difficulties.
What People Are Saying
Air quality alert in Arizona: "You are urged to car pool, telecommute or use mass transit. The use of gasoline-powered equipment should be reduced or done late
in the day."
Air quality alert for Michigan: "Surface temperatures well into the 80s, ample sunlight, and west-southwest winds will create a conducive environment for Ozone development along the Lake Michigan shoreline. Residual wildfire smoke in the region may also enhance Ozone development over Lake Michigan."
What Happens Next
Both alerts are in place throughout Tuesday. More air quality alerts could be issued as smoke is expected to return on Wednesday.
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