Wildfires continue to cause poor air quality; conditions expected to improve Monday

SPOKANE, Wash. — If you have any underlying health conditions, especially ones that affect your lungs or heart, you might want to limit your time outside due to poor air quality in the region on Sunday.

According to Spokane Regional Clean Air Agency, Sunday’s air quality in Spokane is rated 130 on a scale from 0 to 500.

The poor air quality is a result from large wildfires burning in central Washington producing heavy smoke and hazy skies.

The 130 rating means the air outside is unhealthy for sensitive groups.

Sensitive groups include:

Those with lung diseases such as asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), including bronchitis and emphysema.Those with respiratory infections, such as pneumonia, acute bronchitis, bronchiolitis, colds, or flu.Those with existing heart or circulatory problems, such as dysrhythmias, congestive heart failure, coronary artery disease, and angina.Those with a prior history of heart attack or stroke.Infants and children under 18 because their lungs and airways are still developing and they breathe more air per pound of body weight than adults.Adults over age 65 because they are more likely to have unrecognized heart or lung diseases.Pregnant women because both the mother and fetus are at increased risk of health effects.Smokers because they are more likely to already have lower lung function and lung diseases.People with low socioeconomic status because they are more likely to have higher exposures and less likely to have access to healthcare.

“Inhaling smoke is not good for anyone, even healthy people,” says Spokane Regional Clean Air. “Most people are likely to have minor symptoms. Others are considered in the Sensitive Groups because they are more likely to have health problems from breathing smoke.”

SRCA said air quality is expected to improve Monday due to a chance of showers.

For more information on the air quality and how to stay safe and healthy, visit www.spokanecleanair.org.