Regional
Air Quality Advisory Eastern Nevada County
Author: Joe Fish, Northern Sierra Air Quality Management District
Published on Jul 2, 2008 - 1:36:14 PM

Yesterday's air quality (7-1-08) was in the good range until 3:00pm. Then the numbers shot up into the unhealthy range. With just a little wind shift, air quality can improve or degrade within a rather short period of time. These conditions will persist until the wildland fires decrease in size and intensity. So, keeping that in mind, conditions will most likely vary from moderate to unhealthy over short to extended periods of time as the plume of smoke from the wildland fire wafts back and forth due to varying wind patterns.

All Individuals Should Continue To Avoid Or Limit All Physical Activity Outdoors, Especially Sensitive Individuals

Until the present conditions improve, individuals should consider taking the following actions:

Healthy people should delay strenuous exercise, particularly when they can smell smoke.

Children and elderly people should consider avoiding outdoor activities, particularly prolonged outdoor exertion.

People with health-related illnesses, particularly respiratory problems, should remain indoors.

Asthmatics should follow their asthma management plan.

Scientific studies have linked fine particulate matter (smoke) with significant health problems, including premature death, respiratory related hospital admissions, aggravated asthma, acute respiratory symptoms (including severe chest pain, gasping, and aggravated coughing), chronic bronchitis, decreased lung function, and work and school absences.

Sensitive groups and individuals are the elderly, children, asthmatics, and adults with pre-existing heart and lung disease, pregnant women, and athletes. The Northern Sierra Air Quality Management District advises that people in these sensitive categories limit prolonged outdoor exertion.

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