芝加哥公共衛生部專員艾莉森·阿瓦迪(Allison Arwady)說,(空氣質量)達到這樣的水平在芝加哥地區是不常見的。她建議,患有慢性肺病和心髒病的人應該呆在室內,任何長時間在戶外的人都應該考慮戴N95或KN95口罩,居民也應該考慮關閉窗戶,在室內使用空氣淨化器。 與此同時,受空氣情況影響,芝加哥地區的多項室外活動被取消,或轉移到室內。 據悉,芝加哥公園區(Chicago Park District)取消了周二晚上的Movies in the Park活動。園區還表示,他們正在努力“將夏令營在內的項目盡可能轉移到室內”。
Millions of people are at risk for poor air quality as smoke from Canadian wildfires drifts across parts of the country, while others face heat alerts and severe storms.
Millions of people across the United States woke up to severe weather, with parts of the country smothered by smoke from Canadian wildfires, while others are dealing with stifling heat and severe storms.
Around 87 million people are at risk for poor air quality as smoke from the Canadian wildfires spreads, with Detroit, Chicago and Minneapolis among the top four cities with the worst air quality in the world, according to the tracking service IQAir.com.
Meanwhile, around 69 million people face heat alerts, which expanded to include not only the South and Southeast, but also the Midwest and California.
Severe storms capable of large hail are also anticipated across parts of Minnesota and Wisconsin, with Minneapolis being the largest metro area at risk.
The recent severe weather has prompted major disruptions, including sweeping flight cancellations and delays.
What to know about severe weather in U.S.
The ongoing wildfires in Canada are expected to bring poor air quality to parts of the U.S. for the next few days, according to the National Weather Service.
Large metro areas under air quality alerts include: Minneapolis, Chicago, St. Louis, Cleveland, Louisville, Detroit, Pittsburgh, Buffalo, Raleigh, Atlanta and Washington, D.C.
Excessive heat warnings and advisories have been issued for most of Texas, southern New Mexico, southeastern Oklahoma, eastern Kansas, Missouri, southern Arkansas, Louisiana and southern Mississippi, according to the weather service.
Showers and severe thunderstorms are expected over parts of Wisconsin and southeastern Minnesota.
46m ago / 5:41 PM EDT
D.C. nonprofit urges susceptible groups to avoid outdoor activities
Antonio Planas
A Washington, D.C., nonprofit is urging sensitive groups to avoid outdoor activities Thursday.
The Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments recommended in a tweet that certain susceptible groups should avoid “long or intense outdoor activities” and consider rescheduling those activities or moving them indoors.
The group also advised healthy people to limit outside activities.
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1h ago / 5:18 PM EDT
New York state health officials issue air quality advisory
Antonio Planas
A health advisory was issued for Thursday in New York because air quality is predicted to reach unhealthy levels, state officials said.
The advisory is in effect from 12 a.m. to 11:59 p.m., state officials said.
Air levels are expected to deteriorate for the western and central regions of the state, along with eastern Lake Ontario and the Adirondacks, according to a joint statement from state Department of Environmental Conservation Basil Seggos and State Department of Health Commissioner Dr. James McDonald.
The advisory warns everyone may begin to experience health effects, but members of sensitive groups may face more serious effects.
Individuals with heart or breathing problems, the elderly and children, may be more susceptible to exposure.
Health officials also recommend minimizing exposure both indoors and outdoors where fine particle concentrations may be higher.
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2h ago / 4:30 PM EDT
From Chicago to Minnesota officials warn about air quality
Associated Press
In Chicago, Mayor Brandon Johnson urged young people, older adults and residents with health issues to spend more time indoors and pledged “swift action to ensure that vulnerable individuals have the resources they need to protect themselves and their families.”
Minnesota issued a record 23rd air quality alert for the year through late Wednesday night, as smoky skies obscured the skylines of Minneapolis and St. Paul. Michigan, Wisconsin and Indiana were among other states issuing air quality alerts, and cities including Louisville also advised people to limit prolonged or intense outdoor activity.
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2h ago / 4:00 PM EDT
Smoke from Canada wildfires increasing health risks in Black, poorer US communities
Associated Press
DETROIT — Smoky air from Canada’s wildfires shrouded broad swaths of the U.S. from Minnesota to Pennsylvania and Kentucky on Wednesday, prompting warnings to stay inside and exacerbating health risks for people already suffering from industrial pollution.
The impacts are particularly hard on poor and minority communities that are more likely to live near polluting plants and have higher rates of asthma. Detroit, a mostly Black city with a poverty rate of about 30%, had the worst air quality in the U.S. on Wednesday, leading the Environmental Protection Agency to warn that “everyone should stay indoors.”
“The more breaths you’re taking, you’re inhaling, literally, a fire, camp smoke, into your lungs,” said Darren Riley, who was diagnosed with asthma in 2018, a few years after arriving in Detroit.
“Many communities face this way too often,” said Riley, who is Black. “And while this wildfire smoke allows, unfortunately, many people to feel this burden, this is a burden that far too long communities have faced day in and day out.”
The Environmental Protection Agency’s AirNow.gov site showed Detroit in the “hazardous” range. Chicago, Indianapolis, Cleveland, Ohio; and Pittsburgh all have “very unhealthy” air. A wider circle of unhealthy air spread into St. Louis and Louisville, Kentucky.
Detroit’s southwest side is home to a number of sprawling refineries and manufacturing plants. It is one of the poorest parts of a mostly Black city, which has an overall poverty rate of about 30%.
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3h ago / 3:30 PM EDT
N.C. health officials urge precaution against heat
There have been almost 400 emergency room visits in North Carolina for heat-related illnesses through mid-June, officials said as they continue to urge residents to take the proper precautions.
Public health officials with the state's Department of Health and Human Services advised North Carolinians to stay wary of signs of heat-related illness including fatigue, weakness, fainting, vomiting and muscle cramps. Anyone experiencing those symptoms is told to drink water, move to a cool place and seek medical attention.
Health officials also said that the state's heat report shows that through June 17, there have been 361 ER visits for heat-related illnesses. Cooling assistance is available for people who are eligible, the health department said.
A dramatic time-lapse released yesterday by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration showed how much extreme heat has intensified over Mexico and the central and southern U.S. since the beginning of May.