Millions of people in Texas have been told to avoid drive-thru lanes on Wednesday amid concerns over high air pollution levels.
Air quality alerts have been issued across numerous states for Wednesday, covering parts of Texas, Minnesota, Connecticut, Colorado and Washington.
The warnings mean ground-level ozone and particulate concentrations are forecast to reach dangerous levels. In some areas, the pollution comes from drifting wildfire smoke.
Why It Matters
The National Weather Service (NWS) warned that the general public as well as sensitive groups—children, seniors, and individuals with preexisting respiratory or heart conditions—might experience health effects linked to poor air quality in the affected regions.
“Sensitive groups, such as people with lung disease (including asthma), heart disease, and children and older adults, should limit prolonged or heavy exertion,” it said.
“Reduce or eliminate activities that contribute to air pollution, such as outdoor burning, and use of residential wood-burning devices. Reduce vehicle trips and vehicle idling as much as possible. Keep windows closed overnight to prevent smoke from getting indoors.”
What To Know
In Texas, an Ozone Action Day for the Dallas-Fort Worth metropolitan area has been issued for Wednesday. The region had a population of more than 7.8 million in 2020.
The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) said in the NWS alert: “Atmospheric conditions are expected to be favorable for producing high levels of ozone air pollution in the Dallas-Fort Worth area on Wednesday.
“You can help prevent ozone pollution by sharing a ride, walking, riding a bicycle, taking your lunch to work, avoiding drive-thru lanes, conserving energy, and keeping your vehicle properly tuned.”
In Minnesota, an air quality alert for fine particle pollution has been issued for the northeast until 11 p.m. on Wednesday. Air quality is forecast to be in the unhealthy for sensitive groups range.
In Washington, an air quality alert has been issued for Mason County, west of Seattle, until 9 a.m. on Friday due to smoke from the Bear Gulch Fire, which has been burning since July 6.
In Colorado, an air quality health advisory for wildfire smoke has been issued in select areas until 9 a.m. in response to wildfires such as the Lee and Elk fires, which between them have burned close to 150,000 acres.
The Lee fire, which had blazed through 130,000 acres alone by Monday morning, was sparked by lightning on August 2 and became the fifth largest in state history. Around 1,000 firefighters are battling the huge inferno—which was only 7 percent contained at the start of the week—amid gusty winds and dry conditions.
Meanwhile in Connecticut, an Air Quality Action Day has been issued for western counties until 11 p.m., covering the city of Hartford. The warning means that ground level ozone levels may approach or exceed unhealthy levels.
What People Are Saying
The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency said in the NWS alert: “Reduce or eliminate activities that contribute to air pollution, such as outdoor burning, and use of residential wood burning devices. Reduce vehicle trips and vehicle idling as much as possible. Keep windows closed overnight to prevent smoke from getting indoors.”
The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment said: “If smoke is thick or becomes thick in your neighborhood you may want to remain indoors. This is especially true for those with heart disease, respiratory illnesses, the very young, and older adults.
“Consider limiting outdoor activity when moderate to heavy smoke is present. Consider relocating temporarily if smoke is present indoors and is making you ill. If visibility is less than five miles in smoke in your neighborhood, smoke has reached levels that are unhealthy.”
Jonathan Grigg, a professor of pediatric respiratory and environmental medicine at Queen Mary University of London, previously told Newsweek that there are “very clear links” between inhaling particles and earlier death from both respiratory and cardiovascular diseases.
He added: “There are vulnerable groups and classically they are children because they’ve got an extra issue to do with their lungs developing, whereas our lungs are not developing as adults.”
What Happens Next
The majority of the air quality alerts are currently set to remain in force until late Wednesday.
Regular updates regarding air pollution levels are issued on the NWS website and on the Environmental Protection Agency’s AirNow interactive map.
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