The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) AirNow map shows that on Monday morning at 6 a.m. Eastern Time, the levels of fine particulate matter pollution (PM2.5) in certain areas of California, Nevada, Oregon, and South Dakota are gradually reaching “unhealthy” levels.
The EPA is urging the elderly, children, individuals with certain illnesses, and other sensitive groups to avoid prolonged or strenuous outdoor activities. It is recommended that all individuals reduce participation in outdoor activities that involve prolonged exposure or vigorous physical exertion.
This warning is due to the fact that outdoor sports can cause people to breathe more rapidly, allowing fine particles to penetrate deeper into the lungs.
The EPA warns that the more intense and prolonged outdoor activities are, the higher the likelihood of being affected by particulate matter. If your activities require prolonged or vigorous exercise, reduce the duration of the activity or choose lower intensity activities, such as walking instead of jogging.
PM2.5 refers to particulate matter with a diameter of 2.5 micrometers or smaller, finer than a strand of hair. According to the EPA, it is widely considered one of the most dangerous forms of air pollution.
These particles can penetrate the lungs and sometimes even enter the bloodstream, triggering or exacerbating certain health conditions such as asthma, coughing, itching of the nose, eyes, and throat, shortness of breath, and chest tightness.
PM2.5 can originate from various sources including wildfires, chimney emissions, vehicle emissions, as well as emissions from power plants or factories.
The EPA typically uses the Air Quality Index (AQI) to report to the public and classify air quality across the United States. The AQI is a standardized numerical range from 0 to 301+, categorizing air quality into several levels.
According to IQAir’s annual analysis, Georgia, Arkansas, and Idaho have the highest average PM2.5 concentrations nationwide. Several states in the South and Southeast, such as Mississippi, often exceed the WHO recommended standards.
(Reference: Report from “Newsweek”)