Wildfire smoke: Who is affected and how dangerous is it?

At least 18 states issued air quality alerts Wednesday, warning people to avoid going outside or limit their activities as the smoke continued to drift south from Canada, bringing with it a dull, gray pallor that settled over many city skylines and caused many to wake to the smell of smoke. As of Wednesday afternoon, multiple United States airports had ordered ground stops for their flights due to the low visibility.The U.S.

The particulate matter can make its way into the eyes — accounting for many complaints of irritation — but it can also travel into the airways and settle in the lungs, causing irritation of the airways and other adverse effects, especially for people with underlying health conditions. Those with asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or other lung conditions should be particularly cautious about their behavior, as their conditions can be exacerbated by the particulate matter.

With smoke blowing in from northern wildfires, air quality on the National Mall is not great. This week could be a good opportunity to spend some time indoors with our friends at the @smithsonian museums.— National Mall NPS June 7, 2023 Instances of heart attacks and heart arrhythmia are more common after wildfire exposure, particularly in elderly populations, and exposure has also been linked to instances of sudden cardiac death.

Importantly, proximity doesn't matter when it comes to exposure or potential harm from wildfire smoke — meaning that those living in the U.S. many miles away from the wildfires can still be at risk, depending on the concentration of particulate matter. Code Red includes air quality measuring between 151 and 200, according to the EPA. The next tier, Code Purple, is measured at 201-301. A Code Purple is considered"very unhealthy" air conditions, with increased health risks for everyone, not just certain groups.

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NYC students encouraged to attend school Wednesday despite wildfire smoke conditions: NYC officials | amNewYorkThe administration officially announced its decision to resume school for students and teachers late Tuesday evening. The current air quality health advisory
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