The ten most polluted cities in the United States are currently in California and Nevada, as the smoke from the Great Heat Fire persists in the region, according to air pollution control company IQ Air.
On Tuesday evening, Tahoe Vista, located on the north shore of Lake Tahoe, had an air quality index of 415, which is within the highest level of concern and is considered “dangerous.” According to IQ Air, the concentration of the main pollutant, PM2.5, in the air is 37 times higher than that recommended for respiration by the World Health Organization.
Earlier Sunday, Tahoe Vista exceeded the total range of 0 to 500 of the air quality index when the area reached the score of 596. Anything above the score of 200 is considered unhealthy for all. groups of people regardless of their health status, health in the Environmental Defense Fund, said Dr. Elena Craft.
“There’s a major health threat in the region right now,” he told CBS News. “It’s very important to consider air quality.”
The office said breathing gunpowder smoke can cause heart attacks, cardiac arrest, cancer and asthma attacks for those suffering from the disease. He added that some of these health complications may occur days after being exposed to polluted air.
“Just because you might be out of the fire right now, if you’ve had any prior exposure over the previous two days, this poses a higher risk of some of these cardiovascular problems,” he said.
He recommended that those in the affected areas limit exposure to air pollution, stay indoors, use an air filter or purifier in their home, keep any anti-inflammatory medication on hold. asthma or heart, reduce physical activity and monitor the weather closely. He also said that some face masks can also help protect themselves from air pollution.
“You really want to try to avoid being outside and being exposed, not just if you’re one of those vulnerable populations, but anyone,” Craft said. “It’s harmful to the lungs.”
On Thursday, the U.S. Department of Agriculture temporarily closed nine national forests, including the Tahoe National Forest and Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit, until Sept. 6 due to “extreme fire conditions.”
Starting Tuesday, next Fire Heat has burned 117,704 hectares and contains only 9%, according to Inciweb. The fire has destroyed 455 structures and still threatens another 17,000. According to the Governor’s Office of Emergency Services, two fire-related injuries were reported Monday as of Monday and thousands of residents have had to evacuate their homes.
California officials said this week that Heat “knocks on the door of Lake Tahoe Basin,” CBS Sacramento reported.
“We have made every effort to keep it out of the basin, but we must also be aware that there is a possibility based on how the fires have been burned,” said Thom Porter, director of the Forestry Department. of California and Fire Protection said Monday.