Latest news with #PanagisGaliatsatos
Newsweek
6 days ago
- Climate
- Newsweek
People in Multiple States Advised to Monitor Themselves for Coughs
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. Officials in Michigan and Maine warned residents to monitor themselves for respiratory symptoms, including coughs, as poor air quality hit both states on Wednesday. Health advisories and air quality alerts blamed elevated fine particulate and ozone levels caused by wildfire smoke and other pollution sources for putting people in several counties in both states at increased risk of adverse health effects. Coughing is the lungs' only defense mechanism, said Dr. Panagis Galiatsatos, a volunteer medical spokesperson with the American Lung Association (ALA). "A cough is the body's way of saying, 'hey, you're breathing in something we don't really agree with,'" he told Newsweek. Why It Matters Air quality alerts mean increased risks for Americans, particularly for vulnerable groups such as children, older adults, and individuals with preexisting heart or respiratory conditions. Fire-related air pollution can worsen conditions such as asthma and lead to more serious health events during periods of elevated pollutants. With nearly half Americans already living in areas with failing grades for particle or ozone pollution, according to the ALA's 2025 "State of the Air" report, the current alerts underscore persistent and growing public health challenges from air pollution across the United States. What to Know Michigan's Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy issued an Air Quality Advisory for Wednesday, across at least 15 counties, including Emmet, Cheboygan, Leelanau, Antrim, Benzie, Grand Traverse, Kalkaska, Manistee, and several in the Upper Peninsula. Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) rose to levels considered 'Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups' or higher, with some areas reaching the red AQI range, according to the EPA's AirNow platform. Officials recommended avoiding strenuous outdoor activities, especially for people with heart disease, asthma, or other respiratory conditions. Authorities instructed residents to monitor for symptoms such as wheezing, coughing, chest tightness, dizziness, or burning of the nose, throat, and eyes. Residents were also advised to keep windows closed overnight and use high-efficiency filters (MERV-13 or higher) in home air systems. A stock image of a woman coughing. A stock image of a woman coughing. Liubomyr Vorona/Getty The Maine Department of Environmental Protection's (DEP) Bureau of Air Quality issued an Air Quality Alert from 11 a.m. Wednesday to 11 p.m. Thursday for much of the state—including Hancock, York, Cumberland, Sagadahoc, Lincoln, Knox, and Waldo counties. The alert cited ozone levels predicted to reach the 'Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups' range, with particle pollution levels also expected to be moderate statewide due to wildfire smoke. Officials recommended limiting strenuous outdoor activity, warning that the health impacts could be compounded by ongoing heat and humidity. The DEP specifically urged people who may be especially sensitive—including children, the elderly, and those with asthma or heart disease—to consider reducing the intensity and duration of outdoor activities if symptoms including cough, shortness of breath, or throat irritation develop. Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and ozone, the primary pollutants cited in both states, can irritate the respiratory system and worsen chronic conditions. Wildfire smoke contains small particles able to penetrate deep into the lungs, increasing risks for bronchitis, asthma attacks, and potential cardiovascular impacts. Short-term exposure to unhealthy air can cause noticeable symptoms even in healthy individuals, but the risks are substantially higher for those in at-risk groups. Monitoring for symptoms such as coughing, throat irritation, and chest discomfort remains crucial for early intervention and prevention of severe outcomes. Galiatsatos told Newsweek that coughing is a good thing in that it is the body's way of expelling something potentially dangerous, but there are instances where someone should seek medical attention. "Your cough itself doesn't need emergent medical attention," he said. "However, if you're also experiencing breathlessness, talk to your doctor or seek more urgent care." Other reasons to see a doctor include a cough lasting more than seven days. What People Are Saying Galiatsatos told Newsweek: "If the Air Quality Index is high, over 100 for the general population, people should really take that into account in regards to their safety. People with preexisting conditions such as asthma or COPD, anything greater than 50 should really be taken into consideration." The National Weather Service (NWS) office in Gaylord, Michigan, said in an air quality alert: "Reduce or eliminate activities that contribute to air pollution, such as outdoor burning, and use of residential wood burning devices." What Happens Next Air quality advisories in Michigan and Maine are scheduled to remain in effect through the end of Wednesday and Thursday depending on local conditions. Officials in both states have advised residents to monitor air quality forecasts and follow health recommendations as pollution levels may fluctuate due to weather and wildfire trends. Galiatsatos urged people to regularly pay attention to their local air quality. If air quality is poor, people might choose to stay indoors, limit their time outside, or keep preventive medications on hand, such as an inhaler.
New York Times
23-04-2025
- Health
- New York Times
Almost Half of Americans Breathe Unhealthy Air, Report Finds
At least 156 million Americans, about 46 percent of the population, live with unsafe levels of ozone, particulate pollution or both, according to the American Lung Association's annual State of the Air report. Plans by the Trump administration to loosen environmental regulations and cut funding for air quality research would make matters worse, the report says. 'The biggest thing that has saved patients' lives in regard to lung health and overall health is the Clean Air Act,' said Panagis Galiatsatos, a pulmonologist at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine and spokesman for the lung association. 'Clearly, legislation is needed because that's what dictates the air quality you breathe.' The report analyzed ozone and particulate pollution levels between 2021 and 2023, a period that included the worst wildfire season on record in Canada. The report ranked pollution levels in counties and cities from best to worst, using a scale from F to A. Air quality in the United States has been generally improving since the Clean Air Act was enacted in 1970, with levels of key pollutants dropping by nearly 80 percent. But millions of Americans still breathe polluted air every day, leading to both acute and chronic health conditions that, in some cases, increase the risk of early death. At least 156.1 million people live with air that got the poorest grade of F for at least one pollutant, and at least 42 million people live in counties that failed all three pollutant standards. Of the 885 counties with air quality monitoring data, 480 counties failed at least one of the three measures. The Biden administration aimed to improve air quality with measures like tighter rules for vehicle emissions and on mercury and carbon emissions from power plants. The Trump administration is already working to reverse those regulations. President Trump has also directed the government to increase the mining and use of coal, including through an executive order earlier this month. 'We're slashing unnecessary regulations that targeted the beautiful, clean coal,' Mr. Trump said when the order was signed. 'I'm also directing Secretary Wright to use billions of dollars of federal funding to invest in the next generation of coal technology,' he added, referring to Energy Secretary Chris Wright. A resurgence in coal power plants would increase particulate pollution and carbon emissions, as well as toxic components such as mercury. The report also found that people of color are more than twice as likely to live in a community with high ozone and particulate pollution, compared with white people. Hispanic communities are three times as likely to be exposed to air that had at least one poor air quality measurement. Those findings aren't surprising, said Regan Patterson, an environmental engineer and environmental justice researcher at the University of California, Los Angeles. But documenting continued disparities in who is exposed to air pollution is critical to motivate policy change, she said. 'We have clean air policies, and they have led to improvements,' Dr. Patterson said. 'It's important to see if these have reduced, or even eliminated, air quality exposure disparities, and we are seeing that they have not.' Overall, exposure of Americans to both ozone and particulate pollution went up. More than 125 million people live in counties with unhealthy levels of ozone, an increase of 24.6 million from the previous report, which covered 2020-22. 'The severity of the problem and the abruptness of the change are unprecedented,' according to the authors. Ninety-three more counties failed the ozone measure than did in the last report, and 10 counties swung to an F from an A. The wildfires in Canada drove much of that change: Smoke traveled south and east, and the ozone burden shifted to the Plains, Midwest and Eastern United States. While the hot and dry weather that fueled the fires in Canada last year was extraordinary when compared with historical records, climate projections suggest such conditions will become common in the 2050s if the world continues on the current trajectory of global warming. As in previous years, California had the most metropolitan areas with high levels of ozone pollution but Chicago, New York and St. Louis joined the list of the most ozone-polluted cities. For particulate pollution smaller than 2.5 microns across, known as PM2.5, the report analyzed both daily and annual pollution levels. Daily reports capture short-term changes, such as spikes in pollution from wildfire smoke, while the annual level reflects a more sustained level of exposure. Daily PM2.5 exposure affects at least 77 million people, the largest population affected in the last 16 years, an increase largely attributable to the Canadian wildfires. About 85 million people live in counties that do not meet the EPA's standards for annual exposure to PM2.5. Only two cities met the report's qualifications for clean air this year: Bangor, Maine, and San Juan, P.R. These cities had no days with extremely high ozone or PM2.5 pollution and ranked in the 25 cities with the lowest annual PM2.5 levels. While the report aims to paint a complete picture of air quality around the country, the data has limitations. Roughly two-thirds of counties in the United States lack air quality monitoring for ozone or particulate pollution. A study published Tuesday in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences estimates 50 million people, or more than 15 percent of the United States' population live in places without reliable air quality monitoring. 'Any estimate we have about health and its relationship with pollution is an underestimate,' said Nelson Roque, who studies environmental health at Pennsylvania State University and was lead author of the study.
