On Monday Spokane Air Quality Index was “unhealthy” the whole day, but spiked to “very unhealthy” in the evening due to multiple fires around the state and in North Idaho and Western Montana channeled smoke into the region. The urge released by the Spokane Regional Health District for people to remain indoors as much as possible and to avoid frequent outdoor activities unless there is an emergency. This is because the air quality remained very unhealthy.
Earlier the air quality index stayed between 160 and 180 at the Wellesley Avenue and Monroe Street monitoring station most of the day, but at 6 PM has reached the “very unhealthy” category with 213 reading. Talking about parts of the Idaho Panhandle, including Sandpoint and Priest River, they spent much of Monday in the “very unhealthy” range, with the readings between 205 and 220.
What are the Main Sources of Bad Air Quality in Spokane?
As the air quality goes to “very unhealthy” people with heart or lung disease, older adults, children, and teens are suggested to take steps to reduce exposure to the unhealthy air. Wildfires burning in Canada are responsible for this bad air quality. The main source of the smoke is over the Northwest, but local drops near both the Gray fire and the Oregon Road fire have been recorded.
Why Air Quality is So Important?
Bad air quality has a negative impact on our health which significantly causes several diseases such as asthma, heart attack, lung failure, nose itching, and much more. According to reports on average single person inhales around 14,000 litres of air every day. When the air is of bad quality it affects our health.
Particulate Matter are solid and liquid particles that are small enough to be breathe and float in the air. It comes from human activities and natural sources. PM varies largely in structure and chemical composition depending on where it comes from. PM is often classified according to its size because size only determines how PM interacts with the environment and humans.
These are classified as:
| PM10 | Particles in air with a diameter of 10 micrometers or less |
| PM25 | Particles in air with a diameter of 25 micrometers or less |
| TSP | Total suspended particulate |
Get all the latest Spokane Air Quality Map here.
Conclusion
Not only Spokane Air Quality is concerned but there were several air quality issues are arising across the globe due to irresponsible activity of humans which ultimately affects health and causes severe diseases. The government is taking crucial steps for Spokane Air Quality control to deal with harsh weather conditions. But at the same people should also participate in these activities to support the government for a sustainable and healthy environment.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Does Spokane experience harsh weather?
Numerous winter storms bring freezing rain, sleet, ice, and occasionally extremely low temperatures. One of the biggest issues is that winter weather can disrupt communications, power, and heating for hours or even days at a time. Extreme cold and heavy snowfall can have detrimental impacts on an entire region.
How will the changing climate impact Spokane, Washington?
There is compelling evidence that human-caused climate change is causing temperatures to rise, which will result in an increase in heat-related illnesses. 2. The Spokane region’s mean annual temperature is predicted to be 9.5 degrees Fahrenheit warmer by the end of this century (2070-2099) than it was from 1971 to 2000.
What causes Spokane River pollution?
Not just Spokane but all of Washington’s urban areas are heavily impacted by stormwater pollution. Sludge, bacteria, oils, metals, fertilizers, and, in Spokane, PCBs, are the main pollutants in stormwater.
When was Spokane, Washington’s air quality at its worst on record?
The worst air quality Spokane has ever experienced occurred on Sunday. The Spokane Regional Clean Air Agency reports that on Sunday morning, Spokane’s “Air Quality Index” reached a high of 499.
What issues is air pollution causing for us?
The diseases that can arise due to air pollution are emphysema, asthma, and other respiratory conditions including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). These can also have an impact on how the lungs grow.
