Smoke, heat pose air pollution risks for residents of central and eastern Washington

Washington State Department of Ecology

Department of Ecology News Release - August 3, 2009

09-194

OLYMPIA – Smoke from wildfires is combining with continuing heat and limited air circulation to worsen air quality throughout central and eastern Washington.

The Washington Department of Ecology (Ecology) and local clean air agencies monitor air pollution. Monitors are showing higher than normal levels of fine particles called PM2.5 in several counties east of the Cascade Mountains. That’s likely due to smoke migrating from wildfires burning in and around Washington. Smoke often carries great distances and accumulates in areas with reduced air circulation.

Fine particles in smoke are easily inhaled into lungs. Once there, they can cause respiratory and cardiovascular problems, including premature death. People with asthma and respiratory illnesses, children and the elderly are particularly at risk.

The Washington State Department of Health recommends that people who are sensitive to air pollution should spend less time outdoors. Air pollution can trigger asthma attacks, cause difficulty breathing, and make lung and heart problems worse.

“Right now, there isn’t much air movement to clean out the smoke and other pollution. It looks like that’s going to continue for a few days, with some improved circulation starting Thursday,” said Clint Bowman, a meteorologist with Ecology’s Air Quality Program.

What you can do to reduce air pollution in your community:

Drive less. Combine errands or use public transportation.
Don’t use lawnmowers or other small engines that emit air pollutants.
Observe bans on outdoor burning to reduce the risk of fires and to protect health.
Don’t idle your engine. Turn it off while your vehicle is parked or waiting in line.
Wait for evening hours to refuel your vehicle.
Don’t paint or use aerosol sprays until temperatures cool off.

For more information

WAQA: The Washington Air Quality Advisory (WAQA) is the Washington Department of Ecology’s tool for informing people about the health effects of air pollution. It includes information about ground-level ozone, fine particle pollution and carbon monoxide. It’s very similar to the Environmental Protection Agency’s national information tool, the Air Quality Index (AQI). Both use color-coded categories to show when air quality is good, moderate or unhealthy. The difference is that WAQA shows the health effects of fine particles at lower levels than the AQI does. In other words, WAQA shows that air quality is unhealthy earlier – when fewer fine particles are in the air. Check https://fortress.wa.gov/ecy/enviwa/Default.htm .

Ecology Central Regional Office: For Chelan, Douglas, Kittitas, Klickitat, and Okanogan counties. Call 509-575-2490.

Ecology Eastern Regional Office: For Adams, Asotin, Columbia, Ferry, Franklin, Garfield, Grant, Lincoln, Pend Oreille, Stevens, Walla Walla, and Whitman counties. Call 509-329-3400.

Benton Clean Air Agency: For Benton County. Call 509-783-1304 or see www.bcaa.net.

Spokane Regional Clean Air Agency: For Spokane County. Call 509-477-4727 or see www.spokanecleanair.org.

Yakima Regional Clean Air Agency: For Yakima County. Call 509-834-2050 or see www.yakimacleanair.org.

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Media Contact: Seth Preston, Ecology communications manager, 360-407-6848; 360-584-5744 cell; spre461@ecy.wa.gov