Latest news with #AirQualityActionDay
Newsweek
5 days ago
- Climate
- Newsweek
Americans in 5 States Urged to Keep Windows Shut
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. Air quality alerts were in effect across parts of five states on Thursday, with the National Weather Service (NWS), in coordination with regional agencies, advising residents to take steps to reduce the impacts of air pollution. Why It Matters The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) warns that exposure to ozone may irritate the respiratory tract, cause airway inflammation, and aggravate existing conditions such as asthma, emphysema, and chronic bronchitis. Regarding particle pollution, the EPA states that studies have linked exposure to a range of health effects, including respiratory symptoms such as coughing and wheezing, the development of asthma, and increased susceptibility to respiratory infections. Experts recommend keeping windows and doors closed during periods of low air quality. What To Know As of Thursday morning, air quality alerts were in effect for Minnesota, Ohio, Connecticut, Colorado, and Wisconsin. In Minnesota, an air quality alert was issued due to fine particle pollution. Smoke from wildfires in Canada's Saskatchewan and Manitoba regions was expected to reach southwestern, northeastern, and central parts of the state on Thursday after covering the northwest the day prior, officials said. "Some uncertainty remains regarding how far south the ground-level smoke will reach by Friday morning, when winds are expected to become southerly and push the smoke back to the north. Air quality should improve gradually from south to north beginning Friday afternoon, with improvement in fine particle levels below the alert threshold expected by the end of Friday," read the alert. Residents were advised to keep their windows closed overnight to prevent smoke from entering their homes. Meanwhile, in Wisconsin, an air quality alert was issued for the northwestern part of the state, also due to wildfire smoke originating from Canada. In Connecticut, an air quality action day was announced for Hartford and northern Fairfield, New Haven, and Middlesex Counties. "An Air Quality Action Day means that Ground Level Ozone concentrations within the region may approach or exceed unhealthy standards," the alert said. In Ohio, An Air Quality Advisory for ground-level ozone was issued by the Northeast Ohio Areawide Coordinating Agency for Ashtabula, Cuyahoga, Geauga, Lake, Lorain, Medina, Portage and Summit Counties. It was in force until midnight Thursday night. "Air quality levels will be unhealthy for sensitive groups during this period," read the alert. Locals were advised to drive less and use alternative modes of transportation, such as public transit and biking, if possible, to help reduce regional air pollution. Additionally, Colorado's Mesa County had been issued an air quality advisory due to smoke from "both in-state and out-of-state wildfires. According to a live map from the non-profit Watch Duty, the Turner Gulch fire in the county had burned over 17,000 acres and was at 41 percent containment at the time of writing. What People Are Saying AccuWeather meteorologist Brandon Buckingham previously told Newsweek: "Ozone is a secondary pollutant, meaning it's not emitted directly from sources, but is formed through chemical reactions. These reactions require sunlight and higher temperatures, making warmer months more prone to ozone formation. When air is stagnant, pollutants don't get dispersed, allowing ozone to build up to unhealthy levels." What Happens Next The NWS issues regular forecasts on its website and social media channels.
Newsweek
17-07-2025
- Climate
- Newsweek
Millions Across 3 States Told To Stay Indoors
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. Millions of people across three states have been urged to remain indoors amid concerns over high air pollution levels. Air quality advisories were issued on Thursday for parts of Connecticut, Colorado and Oregon. The warnings mean ground-level ozone concentrations are forecast to reach dangerous levels that could pose a risk to sensitive groups and the general public. Smoke billowing into the sky from a wildfire in Oregon in June. Smoke billowing into the sky from a wildfire in Oregon in June. Oregon Department of Transportation/AP Why It Matters In its alert notices, the National Weather Service (NWS) warned that people particularly sensitive to elevated pollution levels include those with "heart or lung problems and young children." "Pollutants in smoke can cause burning eyes, runny nose, aggravate heart and lung diseases, and aggravate other serious health problems," it said. The alert added, "Active children and adults, and people with lung disease, such as asthma, should reduce prolonged or heavy outdoor exertion." What To Know The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection issued an Air Quality Action Day for parts of Fairfield and New Haven counties until 11 p.m. on Thursday. The alert is issued when ground level ozone levels are forecast to approach or exceed unhealthy standards. The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment issued an Ozone Action Day Alert until 4 p.m. on Thursday. The alert covers Douglas, Jefferson, Denver, Arapahoe, Adams, Broomfield, Boulder, Larimer and Weld counties. "Warming temperatures and light winds may allow ozone to reach levels that are unhealthy for sensitive groups on Thursday," the NWS notice said. "The highest concentrations are expected along the western portions of the northern Front Range, from western Denver northward to Fort Collins." It added, "If possible, please help us reduce ozone pollution by limiting driving gas and diesel-powered vehicles until at least 4 p.m." Meanwhile, Oregon's Department of Environmental Quality issued an air quality advisory for Klamath County until 10 a.m. It added that many health and local air agencies had issued wood-burning restrictions, limiting outdoor burning and the use of wood stoves or fireplaces. What People Are Saying The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality said in the NWS alert: "People can take the following precautions to protect their health: follow local burn restrictions to prevent deteriorating air quality; avoid strenuous outdoor activity during periods of poor air quality; people with heart or lung problems and young children are especially vulnerable. These people should stay indoors while smoke levels are high; use certified High Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filters in indoor heating, ventilation, cooling and air purification systems; avoid using wood-burning stoves and other sources of indoor smoke if possible." The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment said: "If smoke is thick or becomes thick in your neighborhood you may want to remain indoors. This is especially true for those with heart disease, respiratory illnesses, the very young, and older adults. Consider limiting outdoor activity when moderate to heavy smoke is present. Consider relocating temporarily if smoke is present indoors and is making you ill. If visibility is less than 5 miles in smoke in your neighborhood, smoke has reached levels that are unhealthy." Jonathan Grigg, a professor of pediatric respiratory and environmental medicine at Queen Mary University of London, previously told Newsweek that there are "very clear links" between inhaling particles and earlier death from both respiratory and cardiovascular diseases. He added: "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." What Happens Next The air quality alert in Colorado is set to remain in effect until 11 p.m. on Thursday, while Connecticut's is active until 4 p.m. and Oregon's until 10 a.m. The NWS issues regular air quality updates on its website.
Chicago Tribune
15-07-2025
- Climate
- Chicago Tribune
IDEM declares Wednesday an ‘Air Quality Action Day'
The Indiana Department of Environmental Management has declared Wednesday to be an 'Air Quality Action Day,' saying Northwest Indiana's ozone levels are expected to be unhealthy for sensitive groups. IDEM announced Tuesday that Northwest Indiana residents can expect continued high temperatures, modest humidity, light winds under mostly sunny skies, and Canadian wildfire smoke, according to a news release. The Associated Press reported during the weekend that much of the upper Midwest was dealing with unhealthy air because of drifting smoke from Canadian wildfires. Manitoba declared a state of emergency because of the wildfires, leading 12,600 people to evacuate their homes. The fires in Manitoba have burned more than 3,861 miles, according to the Associated Press. 'Air Quality Action Days' are declared based on the U.S. Air Quality Index, which is the Environmental Protection Agency's tool for communicating about outdoor air quality and health, according to the EPA's website. Sensitive groups that could be impacted by poor air quality include people with heart and lung disease, older adults, children, people with diabetes and those with a lower socioeconomic status, according to the EPA's website. Ricky Castro, meteorologist in the National Weather Service's Chicago office, said the 'Air Quality Action Day' declaration was first sent because of lingering effects of the Canadian wildfires. 'If there were some lingering effects and some smoke aloft, that could be conducive for elevated ozone levels,' Castro said. In addition to hazy skies, Castro said Northwest Indiana residents will notice more humid conditions and more stagnant air. Winds might pick up on Wednesday afternoon, Castro said. 'Usually on hot and humid days, it's not uncommon to have elevated ozone levels and air quality alerts,' he added. IDEM's 'Air Quality Action Day' lasts from midnight to 11:59 p.m. on Wednesday, according to the agency's news release. Castro expects a cold front to pass through Northwest Indiana on Thursday, which will help break the unhealthy ozone levels and air quality. For those in sensitive groups, Castro recommends being mindful of time spent outdoors and to monitor their symptoms closely. He also recommends that people keep a close eye on infants and their behavior. 'Stay cool, stay hydrated,' Castro said. 'But, in terms of some of the air quality issues, consider making outdoor activities shorter and less intense.'
Yahoo
11-06-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Code Orange air quality alert declared for southwestern Pennsylvania on Thursday
Southwestern Pennsylvania will be under a Code Orange Air Quality Action Day for ozone on Thursday. Officials say hazy sunshine through low-level Canadian wildfire smoke, high temperatures and light southwest winds will produce significant ozone concentrations. On air quality action days, young children, the elderly, and those with respiratory problems, such as asthma, emphysema, and bronchitis, are especially vulnerable to the effects of air pollution and should limit outdoor activities. Residents and businesses within the Air Quality Action Day areas are strongly encouraged to voluntarily help reduce ozone air pollution by: Driving less by carpooling or using public transportation; Combining errands to reduce vehicle trips; Limiting engine idling; Refueling cars and trucks after dusk; and Conserve electricity by setting air conditioning to a higher temperature and turning off lights that are not in use. Download the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch WPXI NOW
Newsweek
07-06-2025
- Automotive
- Newsweek
One Million Drivers Told To Avoid Gas Stations
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. Indiana residents are being advised to minimize visits to gas stations today as smoke from Canadian wildfires continues to worsen air quality across the state. The Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) has extended an Air Quality Action Day through Saturday; fine particulate levels are reaching unhealthy thresholds, particularly in northern, northeastern, and northwestern regions, as reported by WNDU, potentially affecting at least a million people. Newsweek contacted IDEM for comment via email on Saturday. Why It Matters EPA reports that Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) are chemicals that easily evaporate into the air and are released from sources like petrol stations, vehicle exhaust, paints, and industrial processes. At gas stations, VOCs escape during refueling and contribute to air pollution even with vapor recovery systems in place. When VOCs react with nitrogen oxides (NOx) in sunlight, they form ground-level ozone—a major component of smog, the United States Environmental Protection Agency reports. EPA advises that this ozone can aggravate asthma, trigger respiratory symptoms, and harm people with existing heart or lung conditions. File photo: The price of gasoline is displayed on a pump at a gas station on March 6, 2025 in Chicago, Illinois. File photo: The price of gasoline is displayed on a pump at a gas station on March 6, 2025 in Chicago, To Know The smoke originates from over 200 wildfires burning across Canada, as reported by the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Center, with plumes stretching thousands of miles and affecting air quality throughout the U.S. Midwest. In some areas, air-quality indexes have reached levels deemed "very unhealthy," prompting widespread advisories. Reducing vehicle emissions can help mitigate ozone formation during such alerts. Residents are encouraged to limit driving, avoid refueling vehicles during daylight hours, and postpone the use of gasoline-powered equipment. To reduce pollution and protect public health, it is recommended to avoid gas stations during air-quality alerts or refueling in the evening, when ozone formation is less likely. As reported by Newsweek, at least two people have died and tens of thousands have been evacuated in Canada as a result of the blazes. WDNU reported that the following cities in Indiana will be most affected by the air quality: North Central Indiana: Including the cities of Elkhart, Goshen, Knox, Logansport, Plymouth, Peru, South Bend, Warsaw, Winamac, and all other cities within the area. Northeast Indiana: Including the cities of: Angola, Auburn, Decatur, Fort Wayne, Hartford, Huntington City, LaGrange, Marion, Portland, Wabash and all other cities within the area. Northwest Indiana: Including the cities of: Crown Point, Gary, Hammond, Kentland, LaPorte, Michigan City, Portage, Rensselaer, Valparaiso, and all other cities within the area. IDEM has issued some recommended actions that the public can take. These include: Walk, bike, carpool or use public transportation. Avoid using the drive-through and combine errands into one trip. Avoid refueling your vehicle or using gasoline-powered lawn equipment until after 7 p.m. Turn off your engine when idling for more than 30 seconds. Conserve energy by turning off lights or setting the air conditioner to 75 degrees Fahrenheit or above. A National Weather Service (NWS) air quality alert said that fine particulate levels are expected to be in the Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups range. Active children and adults, and people with respiratory disease, such as asthma, should limit prolonged outdoor exposure. What People Are Saying The American Lung Association warns that wildfire smoke poses significant health risks, especially for children, older adults, and individuals with respiratory conditions. They recommend staying indoors, using air purifiers, and keeping windows closed to reduce exposure. The American Lung Association stated on its website: "Areas throughout the Midwest, including parts of Indiana, will see their air quality impacted by smoke from wildfires burning in Canada this weekend. The smoke is prompting several communities to issue air-quality alerts. "It is unhealthy to breathe and can be especially harmful to sensitive groups, including children, older adults, and people with lung diseases like asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease." What Happens Next Residents are advised to monitor local air-quality reports and take necessary precautions to protect their health during this period of elevated pollution.
