SPOKANE, Wash. – The Spokane Regional Clean Air Agency has issued a health advisory urging everyone, particularly those in sensitive groups, to limit outdoor activities due to elevated pollution concentrations.
The agency recommends avoiding strenuous activities outdoors and opting for lighter indoor activities instead. The air quality on Spokane’s South Hill has reached a level of 101, marking one of the smokiest periods this summer.
The primary concern is the fine particulate matter, known as PM 2.5, found in smoke. These particles, about 2.5 micrometers in size, can lodge in the lungs and cause irritation, posing a risk especially to the elderly and those with respiratory conditions.
Mark Rowe, an air quality monitor with the Spokane Regional Clean Air Agency, emphasized the compounded risks.
“When you’re exerting yourself, you’re breathing the smoke deeper into your lungs. Add to that the heat, so you’re overheating, and you’re stressing your body, your lungs, your circulatory system already with the heat, and then you add to that the smoke. Definitely, you want to avoid exertion,” Rowe stated.
The timing is particularly challenging as high school fall sports are ramping up across the Inland Northwest. The combination of smoke, heat and intense physical activity can increase health risks for athletes.
Additionally, the smoke and haze can act as cloud cover, potentially making temperatures a degree or two cooler as the smoke absorbs and scatters sunlight. This factor is considered when building temperature forecasts for days with poor air quality.
For more information on air quality and health recommendations, visit the Spokane Regional Clean Air Agency’s website.
