Thousands of People in parts of Oregon—including the city of La Pine, in Deschutes County—have been advised to avoid going outside due to “unhealthy” air quality levels, recorded by the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) AirNow map.
Why it Matters
“Unhealthy” levels of air quality can trigger health issues—such as coughing, shortness of breath, and eyes, nose, or throat irritation—for everyone in the affected area, but in particular, for those who are vulnerable, including the elderly, children, pregnant women, and those with existing heart or lung conditions, such as asthma.
What To Know
AirNow—which is an official partner of the EPA—monitors, records, and communicates the air quality across the U.S.
On Monday, at 1 a.m. PST, it recorded an air quality level of around 161 for the La Pine area, which is classed as “unhealthy” according to the Air Quality Index (AQI). Some surrounding areas, in Deschutes County, including the city of Bend, recorded a score of around 136, which means the air is “unhealthy for Sensitive Groups.”
For context, if AirNow records an air quality score between 0 and 50, according to the AQI, it means the air quality is “Good.” If it records a score of between 101 and 150, the air is classified as “unhealthy for sensitive groups,” and a score of between 151 to 200 is classed as “unhealthy,” meaning “some members of the general public may experience health effects; members of sensitive groups may experience more serious health effects.”
In this case, the “unhealthy” air quality across various parts of Oregon is due to elevated levels of fine particle pollution, or fine Particulate Matter—PM2.5. These types of particles are usually smaller than a single strand of hair, making them impossible to see in most cases. But this can make them the most dangerous type of pollution, as they can be unknowingly inhaled, causing or exacerbating health issues.
What People Are Saying
The EPA states: “Numerous scientific studies have linked particle pollution exposure to a variety of problems, including:
- premature death in people with heart or lung disease
- nonfatal heart attacks
- irregular heartbeat
- aggravated asthma
- decreased lung function
- increased respiratory symptoms, such as irritation of the airways, coughing, or difficulty breathing.”
AirNow has warned: “Even if you are healthy, you may experience temporary symptoms from exposure to elevated levels of particles. Symptoms may include: irritation of the eyes, nose, and throat; coughing; phlegm; chest tightness; and shortness of breath.”
What Happens Next
AirNow recommends that everyone in “unhealthy” air quality areas should keep their outdoor activities short and light—walking as opposed to running, for example—and if they start experiencing symptoms, like coughing or eye, nose, or throat irritation, move inside. Those in sensitive groups should consider staying inside until the air quality levels return to a “good” condition.
