Air quality advisory issued for the Portland area
Hot temperatures might not be the only thing Portlanders contend with Thursday – smog is also expected to be a problem.The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality and the Southwest Clean Air Agency issued an air quality advisory Thursday for the Portland-Vancouver metro and Salem areas “due to elevated levels of ozone pollution, or smog.”The advisory is expected to remain in effect until 8 p.m. Friday.According to a press release Wednesday, ozone pollution is expected "to reach levels Thursday and Friday that could be unhealthy for sensitive groups, including children, pregnant people, older adults and people with heart disease or respiratory conditions.”People in those sensitive groups should remain indoors during periods when the pollution levels are high.The Department of Environmental Quality also recommends everyone limit pollution-causing activities on Thursday and Friday if possible.They suggest using public transit or carpooling to limit driving, avoiding engine idling and waiting to use gas-powered equipment, paint and aerosol sprays.“Ozone pollution increases throughout the day with exposure to sunlight,” the agency said in the press release, “so pollution levels tend to be highest during afternoons and early evenings. Air quality monitors may show good air quality in the morning, then quickly jump to unhealthy levels later in the day.”Check the air quality where you live by visiting AirNow.gov or aqi.oregon.gov.– Lizzy Acker covers Oregon weather and writes the advice column Why Tho? Reach her at 503-221-8052, lacker@oregonian.com or @lizzzyacker Our journalism needs your support. Subscribe today to OregonLive.com.
Hot temperatures might not be the only thing Portlanders contend with Thursday – smog is also expected to be a problem.
Hot temperatures might not be the only thing Portlanders contend with Thursday – smog is also expected to be a problem.
The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality and the Southwest Clean Air Agency issued an air quality advisory Thursday for the Portland-Vancouver metro and Salem areas “due to elevated levels of ozone pollution, or smog.”
The advisory is expected to remain in effect until 8 p.m. Friday.
According to a press release Wednesday, ozone pollution is expected "to reach levels Thursday and Friday that could be unhealthy for sensitive groups, including children, pregnant people, older adults and people with heart disease or respiratory conditions.”
People in those sensitive groups should remain indoors during periods when the pollution levels are high.
The Department of Environmental Quality also recommends everyone limit pollution-causing activities on Thursday and Friday if possible.
They suggest using public transit or carpooling to limit driving, avoiding engine idling and waiting to use gas-powered equipment, paint and aerosol sprays.
“Ozone pollution increases throughout the day with exposure to sunlight,” the agency said in the press release, “so pollution levels tend to be highest during afternoons and early evenings. Air quality monitors may show good air quality in the morning, then quickly jump to unhealthy levels later in the day.”
Check the air quality where you live by visiting AirNow.gov or aqi.oregon.gov.
– Lizzy Acker covers Oregon weather and writes the advice column Why Tho? Reach her at 503-221-8052, lacker@oregonian.com or @lizzzyacker Our journalism needs your support. Subscribe today to OregonLive.com.