Thousands in Oregon and Montana advised to stay indoors due to fine particle pollution.
Air quality levels have reached "unhealthy" levels across parts of the two states, prompting health officials to urge residents to limit their outdoor activities. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has issued an AirNow Map warning, indicating that people with pre-existing medical conditions such as heart or lung disease should avoid prolonged exposure to fine particle pollution, also known as PM2.5.
These tiny particles, measuring 2.5 micrometers or less in size, can penetrate deep into the lungs and bloodstream, exacerbating existing health conditions. Even healthy individuals may experience symptoms like coughing, eye irritation, and shortness of breath at elevated levels of particle pollution.
The source of the PM2.5 is currently unknown, but potential contributors include smoke from wildfires, vehicle emissions, industrial plant releases, or construction dust. Residents in affected areas are advised to use indoor air purifiers or filters to maintain clean air indoors and avoid burning candles, wood-burning stoves, or open fires until the air quality improves.
To mitigate health risks, the EPA recommends reducing outdoor activities for everyone except those with pre-existing medical conditions. For vulnerable groups, this means avoiding long or intense outdoor activities altogether.
Air quality levels have reached "unhealthy" levels across parts of the two states, prompting health officials to urge residents to limit their outdoor activities. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has issued an AirNow Map warning, indicating that people with pre-existing medical conditions such as heart or lung disease should avoid prolonged exposure to fine particle pollution, also known as PM2.5.
These tiny particles, measuring 2.5 micrometers or less in size, can penetrate deep into the lungs and bloodstream, exacerbating existing health conditions. Even healthy individuals may experience symptoms like coughing, eye irritation, and shortness of breath at elevated levels of particle pollution.
The source of the PM2.5 is currently unknown, but potential contributors include smoke from wildfires, vehicle emissions, industrial plant releases, or construction dust. Residents in affected areas are advised to use indoor air purifiers or filters to maintain clean air indoors and avoid burning candles, wood-burning stoves, or open fires until the air quality improves.
To mitigate health risks, the EPA recommends reducing outdoor activities for everyone except those with pre-existing medical conditions. For vulnerable groups, this means avoiding long or intense outdoor activities altogether.
I feel so bad thinking about all these people stuck indoors due to poor air quality. It's crazy how something as tiny as PM2.5 can cause so much harm. I'm glad the gov is taking it seriously and warning us, but it makes me wonder what's causing this pollution in the first place? 
my mom has asthma and even a light breeze outside makes her breathless 
hope everyone stays safe till then 
We've got all this technology and stuff, so why can't we just implement some basic measures to keep the air clean? I mean, I get that wildfires are unpredictable, but come on! Can't we use drones or something to track down those pesky smoke plumes and put out fires before they become a problem? 
. Anyway, indoor air purifiers or filters are a no-brainer, folks. If you don't have one, get one ASAP 
. And can we please just stop burning candles and wood-burning stoves until the air quality improves? It's not that hard to make some small changes to keep yourself safe 
, when the air quality is so bad outside... I'm glued to my screen all day, trying not to breathe in too much of that nasty PM2.5 
. You know what would really help? Some decent typography on that news site... can't they just use a clear sans-serif font instead of that weird serif mess? 
what's up with the pollution tho?! 
anyway, gotta take care of myself and stay safe until it clears up 
.
. seriously though, what's up with all these wildfires in our country? is it too much to ask for some clear skies around here? 
. and don't even get me started on how hard it is to find good air purifiers that fit our budget...
.
like i would be if it was snowing lol but seriously tho ppl w/ pre meds should def take precautions 
indoor air purifiers r a lifesaver 
. think about all the wildfires burning out there 
... indoor air purifiers are my new BFF 
, gotta make sure i'm breathing clean air in while we wait for this situation to get better 
i'm gonna make sure my family uses those indoor air purifiers more often, it's better to be safe than sorry 
It's no wonder health officials are telling people to stay indoors unless they have to go out for work or school. My grandma has lung issues and she'd be totally messed up if she had to breathe all that stuff outside 
And seriously, 2.5 micrometers is tiny lol I don't wanna think about how deep those particles can penetrate 
at the same time, i get why the epa is being super strict - we don't know what's causing this pollution, so let's just play it safe, right? 
one thing that concerns me is how are they going to keep our air clean if industrial plants and vehicle emissions are contributing to it in the first place? 
. Using indoor air purifiers or filters can help keep the air clean indoors, so that's a plus 
. Just be careful with candles, wood-burning stoves, and open fires for now – they're not helping 
it's crazy how something as small as particles can affect our health so much! I feel bad for all the people out there who have to stay indoors because of this, especially those with pre-existing conditions 
️
and what about all the wildfires in the west? Don't they know that these tiny particles are coming from somewhere?! 
. seriously though, can we just figure out what's causing this pollution already? it's not like it's rocket science or anything... just saying 
.