By JAN LARSON McLAUGHLIN
BG Independent News
On the East Coast, this week’s smoke from wildfires disrupted flights, shuttered schools, closed beaches, kept people at home from work, plus canceled concerts and Major League Baseball games. In New York City, the cityscape was smothered by an orange haze, making the iconic view unrecognizable.
The smoke that has hovered over the northeastern U.S. earlier this week is spreading into the Midwest – causing the Ohio EPA to issue a statewide air quality alert.
The skies here aren’t expected to turn orange. And most people in this region do not need to be overly concerned about spending time outside. But the particulates from the wildfires in Canada and Michigan are looming in the air locally – even if they can’t be seen, explained Wood County Emergency Management Agency Director Jeff Klein.
“Even though it’s not visually as bad, that doesn’t lessen the hazards to people’s health,” Klein said on Thursday.
To put this in perspective, according to the Wood County EMA, this is the first time in over 20 years the area has dealt with these types of air quality issues.
On Thursday, the air quality risk in Wood County was “moderate,” ranking around 85 for particulate pollution. Any reading over 100 is considered “unhealthy for sensitive groups,” including children, older adults and people with cardiac or respiratory disease.
Klein noted the numbers fluctuate throughout the day. “It comes and goes,” he said.
The smoke particulates are predicted to be heavier in this region on Friday.
“I would anticipate it to be more like you’re seeing in the East,” Klein said.
Both Klein and Wood County Health Commissioner Ben Robison said local residents don’t need to panic – but they should be aware of the situation and of the risks to certain populations.
“How people will be impacted by this will vary,” Robison said. “Everyone will not experience the same thing.”
While this region is not expected to have the smog and visibility concerns the East Coast has, local residents should do what they can to limit exposure potential. The sensitive groups identified include but are not necessarily limited to those with respiratory ailments (asthma, emphysema, COPD, black lung disease, etc.), and the very young or old.
“People don’t need to be worried by a basic walk to the car and from the car to the grocery store,” the health commissioner explained.
The health department is not recommending that people avoid all outdoor activity. But they may want to shorten their walks and take breaks when needed. Children don’t need to be quarantined inside their homes, Robison said. Adults just need to be watchful for any problems children may experience.
“They may feel this before you do,” Robison said. “Be aware of how kids are responding outdoors.”
Robison said he has heard some people equate the smoky air with cigarette smoking, but he said breathing this air for a few days is unlikely to create any long-term health problems.
“We anticipate our environment will improve soon,” he said. “I would not worry about the long-term effect from short-term exposure.”
Robison has some experience with air quality issues impacting public health. In his previous position in Colorado, wildfires were a much more common problem.
“This is certainly unusual for us. This is not something we see here,” he said. But the role of public health is the same.
“Our job is to equip people with information,” he said.
Facial coverings will only be beneficial if they are properly fitting N95 masks, he said.
Driven by wildfires in Canada, the smoke that has hovered over parts of the Northeast continues to spread, with alerts now extended to the Midwest and south to the Carolinas.
The Air Quality Index (AQI) monitors five major pollutants regulated by the Clean Air Act, established by Congress in 1970. The five major pollutants monitored are: ozone, carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide, sulfur dioxide, and particle pollution.
The link to the Air Quality Advisory Website is: https://www.airnow.gov/state/?name=ohio&utm_medium=email&utm_name=&utm_source=govdelivery
The link to Wood County conditions is: https://fire.airnow.gov/?lat=41.37213500000007&lng=-83.64582999999999&zoom=8
Depending on when you review the data, there can be various levels in the region.
The Air Quality Index is rated on a scale from 0-500:
Green-Good 0-50: No risk.
Yellow-Moderate 51-100: A concern for those who are unusually sensitive to air pollution.
Orange-Unhealthy 101-150: Sensitive groups people will start to experience health effects.
Red-Unhealthy 151-200: Sensitive groups should consider moving outdoor activities inside, everyone else reduce long or intense outdoor activity.
Purple-Very Unhealthy 201-300: Sensitive groups should avoid all physical outdoor activities, consider moving activities indoors.
Maroon-Hazardous 301-500: Everyone should avoid all outdoor physical activities.
An air quality advisory for wildfires is not common for Northwest Ohio. Throughout the day, the air quality levels will fluctuate. If you are outside, exposure to air quality is a greater risk than when inside. When planning to be outside, keep an eye on air quality conditions.
Recommendations:
- Monitor current Air Quality Index.
- Schedule outdoor activity for morning or evening when levels are usually lower.
- Move outdoor events and/or activities inside when possible.
- If you are vulnerable, remain inside (in air conditioning, windows closed) as much as possible.
- Reduce level of physical activity, such as walking instead of running.
- Do not add to the indoor pollution such as burning candles.
- Replace air conditioner filters.
- Use home air filtration systems on high.
- Seek medical attention if you experience shortness of breath.
- Face masks can be used, however they should be high quality, proper fitting N95 are recommended. Dust, bandana and “gator” style masks will provide very little protection for this event.
Weather patterns are anticipated to shift this weekend, bringing rain off and on throughout Tuesday. This should be enough to move the local air quality back into the good range, according to Wood County EMA.
