Latest news with #YavapaiGeologyMuseum
Newsweek
31-07-2025
- Climate
- Newsweek
Millions Told To Monitor Themselves for Palpitations, Breathing Problems
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 or advisory notices have been issued for parts of Connecticut, Michigan, Minnesota, Wisconsin and Texas on Thursday with people urged to monitor themselves for shortness of breath and palpitations. The warnings were shared by the federal National Weather Service (NWS) as strong winds blow wildfire smoke across multiple states. Why It Matters The NWS warns "sensitive groups," including children, older adults and those with respiratory conditions, are especially vulnerable but that "the general public" may also "experience health effects" across impacted areas. People are urged to avoid outdoor and indoor wood burning and to reduce vehicle trips in some areas to avoid adding to the air pollution. What To Know The air quality alerts and advisories in place on Thursday apply to all of Minnesota, as well as most of Wisconsin bar some northern areas and a large central slice of Michigan according to the NWS. They also cover patches of coastal Texas, including Houston, and parts of Connecticut. Minnesota, Michigan and Wisconsin are being impacted by fine particle matter from wildfire smoke initiating across the border in the Canadian provinces of Manitoba and Saskatchewan. The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources has issued an Air Quality Advisory notice urging people to "keep outdoor activities shorter and less intense" with vulnerable groups urged to "consider rescheduling or moving all activities inside." Asthma sufferers should keep their medication handy and follow their asthma action plans, while those with heart disease should contact their health care provider if they experience symptoms such as shortness of breath, palpitations or "unusual fatigue." An air quality alert has also been issued for the entirety of Minnesota by the state's Pollution Control Agency which advised the public to "avoid prolonged or heavy exertion," while those in sensitive groups should "avoid all physical activities outdoors." Similarly, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, which issued an air quality advisory for much of the state, says people in sensitive groups should "consider rescheduling or moving all activities inside" and "go inside if you have symptoms." The general public is advised to "keep outdoor activities shorter and less intense" and to "go inside if you have symptoms." Stock photograph showing smoke from the Dragon Bravo fire filling the Grand Canyon along the South Rim near the Yavapai Geology Museum on July 17, 2025 in Grand Canyon, Arizona. Stock photograph showing smoke from the Dragon Bravo fire filling the Grand Canyon along the South Rim near the Yavapai Geology Museum on July 17, 2025 in Grand Canyon, Arizona. Scott Olson/GETTY In Connecticut the state's Department of Energy and Environmental Protection has issued an air quality alert, which it calls an Air Quality Action Day, for Fairfield, New Haven, Middlesex and New London counties meaning "fine particulates within the region may approach or exceed unhealthy standards." This applies between 11 a.m. and 11 p.m. ET on Thursday. The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality has issued Ozone Action Day notices, which it classifies as air quality alerts, for coastal parts of the state along with the Dallas-Fort Worth area noting that "atmospheric conditions are expected to be favorable for producing high levels of ozone air pollution" for these regions. On Wednesday millions of people across Michigan were urged to monitor themselves for symptoms such as coughing and dizziness due to smoke from Canadian wildfires drifting across the border. What People Are Saying The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency said: "Northerly winds will continue transporting waves of heavy surface smoke from wildfires across Manitoba and Saskatchewan into smoke will be reinforced by an area of high pressure that will create light winds and limit the dispersion of smoke." The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality wrote: "You can help prevent ozone pollution by sharing a ride, walking, riding a bicycle, taking your lunch to work, avoiding drive-through lanes, conserving energy, and keeping your vehicle properly tuned." The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources said that for people with heart disease "symptoms such as palpitations, shortness of breath, or unusual fatigue may indicate a serious problem. If you have any of these, contact your health care provider." What Happens Next Canada is currently experiencing one of its worst wildfire seasons in recorded history, with Natural Resources Canada, a government body, warning the wildfire risk remains "extreme" across parts of Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba and Northwest Territories. Thus the threat to air quality in certain northern U.S. states from smoke is likely to continue over the coming days.
Newsweek
26-07-2025
- Climate
- Newsweek
Alert Issued To Millions To Monitor Chest Discomfort
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 have been announced by local authorities, and shared by the federal National Weather Service (NWS), across Vermont and Maine for Saturday due to pollution levels. A separate air quality alert has also been issued for Mesa County in Colorado due to smoke caused by wildfires. Why It Matters According to the NWS sensitive groups, such as children, older people and those with lung or heart disease, may "experience adverse respiratory symptoms" due to the conditions. What To Know The Vermont Agency of Natural Resources (VANR) has issued an air quality alert "for fine particle pollution from wildfire smoke" on Sunday covering Grand Isle, Western Franklin, Orleans, Essex, Western Chittenden, Lamoille, Caledonia, Washington, Western Addison, Orange, Eastern Franklin, Eastern Chittenden and Eastern Addison until 11 p.m. ET in the evening. The state agency says "all individuals should reduce prolonged or heavy exertion" in impacted areas, with those outside urged to "take more breaks and do less intense activities" while also keeping an eye for symptoms such as shortness of breath or coughing. Those with heart disease are urged to contact their health care provider if they experience symptoms such as "palpitations, shortness of breath, or unusual fatigue" which "may indicate a serious problem." Asthma sufferers should keep their medication handy and follow their action plans. A separate VANR air quality alert due to particle pollution in wildfire smoke has been issued until 11 p.m. ET on Saturday for Western Rutland, Eastern Rutland, Western Windsor and Eastern Windsor with the same health advice in place. For these areas the air quality index is expected to "approach or exceed" an unhealthy level for sensitive groups. The VANR has also imposed an air quality alert on Bennington, Western Windham and Eastern Windham until 11 p.m. ET on Saturday due to "fine particulates" which are expected to "approach or exceed the Code Orange or Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups category." Those living in these areas are advised to take the same precautions that were suggested for the previous two alerts. In Maine the Maine Department of Environmental Protection's (MDEP) Bureau of Air Quality has issued an air quality alert related to particle pollution for Southern Penobscot, Interior Hancock, Central Washington, Coastal Hancock and Coastal Washington until 11 p.m. ET on Saturday. Stock photograph showing smoke from the Dragon Bravo fire filling the Grand Canyon along the South Rim near the Yavapai Geology Museum on July 17, 2025 in Grand Canyon, Arizona. Stock photograph showing smoke from the Dragon Bravo fire filling the Grand Canyon along the South Rim near the Yavapai Geology Museum on July 17, 2025 in Grand Canyon, Arizona. Scott Olson/GETTY The agency advises people to limit strenuous outside physical activity particularly for groups that "may be especially sensitive" such as the elderly and those with respiratory problems. It adds: "If you experience symptoms such as shortness of breath, coughing, throat irritation or an uncomfortable sensation in your chest please consider limiting the intensity and duration of your outdoor activities." The MDEP has also issued an air quality alert until 11 p.m. ET on Saturday for Northern Oxford, Northern Franklin, Central Somerset, Southern Oxford, Southern Franklin, Southern Somerset, Interior York, Central Interior Cumberland, Androscoggin, Kennebec, Interior Waldo, Coastal York, Coastal Cumberland, Sagadahoc, Lincoln, Knox, Coastal Waldo and Interior Cumberland Highlands. Identical health advise has been issued to those in these areas and those covered by the previous MDEP alert with the agency noting: "A plume of smoke moved into Maine overnight bringing much higher particle pollution values than previously expected. As the day progresses, the plume of smoke is expected to keep moving and values should drop down but air quality will continue to be a health concern for much of the day for these regions." Those in Maine can call 1-800-223-1196 poll free to get updates on the air quality situation. Finally an air quality health advisory notice for wildfire and smoke has been issued for Mesa County in Colorado by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment until 9 a.m. MTS on Saturday. The agency warns: "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." In Florida a NWS heat advisory notice is in place for a number of cities on Saturday with the federal agency warning of the danger from "heat-related illness." What People Are Saying For areas impacted by its alert the VANR said: "It's OK to be active outside, but take more breaks and do less intense activities. Watch for symptoms such as coughing or shortness of breath. "People with asthma should follow their asthma action plans and keep quick relief medicine handy. If you have heart disease: symptoms such as palpitations, shortness of breath, or unusual fatigue may indicate a serious problem. If you have any of these, contact your health care provider." Meanwhile the MDEP said: "The Maine Department of Environmental Protection recommends that individuals consider limiting strenuous outdoor physical activity to reduce the risk of adverse health effects. People who may be especially sensitive to the effects of elevated levels of pollutants include the very young, the elderly, those with preexisting respiratory problems such as asthma, those with heart disease and anyone who is working hard outdoors. "But if you experience symptoms such as shortness of breath, coughing, throat irritation or an uncomfortable sensation in your chest please consider limiting the intensity and duration of your outdoor activities." What Happens Next Heading into next week a severe heat dome is expected to strike large swathes of the United States with up to 300 temperature records potentially being challenged across the country.
