"Air quality monitoring stations in the South have detected a 150-mile-wide plume of polluted air hovering over parts of Louisiana, Texas and Arkansas Thursday morning. The worst of the air pollution has been centered over Shreveport in northern Louisiana, home to more than 380,000 people in its greater metropolitan area alone. Multiple air quality monitoring outlets have deemed the air in this region to be 'very unhealthy,' noting a sharp rise in the levels of fine particulate matter, also known as PM2.5."
"These microscopic particles of toxic compounds or heavy metals are often produced by factories and car exhaust small enough to penetrate deep into the lungs. They can cause inflammation, breathing difficulties and other health issues when inhaled. In Shreveport, the air quality index (AQI) has risen to 250, according to the World Air Quality Index project, a nonprofit providing real-time air pollution data for hundreds of countries."
"Air quality levels are measured on a scale from 0 to 500, with zero being the healthiest. When outdoor air quality approaches the 300 to 500 hazardous zone, the US Environmental Protection Agency warns that everyone should avoid all physical activity outside. The Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality confirmed that PM2.5 had risen into the danger zone for human health."
"AccuWeather warned in an alert: 'Healthy individuals are likely to experience difficulty breathing and throat irritation; consider staying indoors and rescheduling outdoor activities.' Air pollution at this level can cause respiratory issues such as asthma to worsen and contribute to heart attacks and strokes that cause premature death. However, people without health issues will have problems breathing in PM2.5 at these levels."
Air quality monitoring detected a 150-mile-wide plume of polluted air hovering over parts of Louisiana, Texas, and Arkansas. The highest concentrations were centered over Shreveport, where the air quality index reached 250. Multiple monitoring outlets rated the air as very unhealthy due to a sharp rise in fine particulate matter, PM2.5. PM2.5 consists of microscopic particles from factories and car exhaust that can penetrate deep into the lungs and trigger inflammation and breathing difficulties. The EPA advises avoiding all physical activity outdoors when air quality approaches the 300 to 500 hazardous range. Health impacts can include worsening asthma and increased risk of heart attacks and strokes, and even healthy people may experience breathing difficulty and throat irritation.
Read at Mail Online
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