By Lynne Terry/Oregon Capital Chronicle
Smoke and smog is clogging much of the air in Oregon, state officials said Wednesday.
At mid-day, the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality issued an air advisory for 20 of Oregon’s 36 counties due to wildfire smoke, then followed that up about 30 minutes later with a smog alert for the Portland area and Umatilla County.
The smog advisory remained in place in Umatilla County through 8 p.m. Wednesday and in the Portland area it will remain until 8 p.m. on Thursday. The smoke alert will run until Friday afternoon.
The smog is caused by ozone pollution from the weather and traffic. Ozone forms when hot temperatures and low winds combine with pollution from cars, gas-powered engines and chemicals in paints and aerosols, the agencies said in a release. The pollutants react with sunlight and heat to produce ozone and haze.
Though the air quality can be clear in the morning, as the heat sets in and the hours tick by with the sun streaming down, pollution levels rise and tend to peak in the afternoon and early evening.
Smoke levels in the air can also vary during the day, depending on weather conditions. DEQ said that as dozens of large fires burn in Oregon, Washington and California that smoke-clogged air could plague Baker, eastern Benton, Clackamas, eastern Douglas, Harney, Hood River, Jackson, Jefferson, Josephine, central Lane, Linn, Malheur, Marion, Multnomah, eastern Polk, Umatilla, Wallowa, Wasco, eastern Washington and eastern Yamhill counties.
Both smoke and smog irritate the eyes, nose and lungs and contribute to breathing problems. People who are pregnant, seniors and those with heart disease or respiratory conditions are especially vulnerable to smog. The agencies said they should avoid exposure, if possible, by limiting outdoor activities when pollution levels rise.
The agencies advised people in the Portland area, where traffic can be heavy, and Umatilla County, with interstate and state and regional highways, to carpool or avoid traveling in a gas-powered vehicle altogether and use public transport to curtail the harmful emissions. They also said residents should avoid using gas-powered yard equipment, avoid letting vehicles idle and put off aerosol painting projects.
Check current air quality conditions and advisories on DEQ’s Air Quality Index or by downloading the free OregonAIR app on a smartphone.
This story first appeared in the Oregon Capital Chronicle.
