Dear MEL Topic Readers,
Vancouver’s air quality affected as several wildfires rage
When wildfires occurred in British Columbia, Canada and Washington state, USA, people in metro Vancouver were given air quality warnings of high concentrations of fine particulate matter. What is the fine particulate matter or PM 2.5? It is an air pollutant that is a concern for people's health when levels in the air are high. PM2.5 are tiny particles in the air that reduce visibility and cause the air to appear hazy when levels are elevated. Their diameter is less than 2.5 micrometers, much smaller than that of a piece of human hair. Particles in the PM2.5 size range are able to travel deeply into the respiratory tract, reaching the lungs. Exposure to fine particles can cause short-term health effects such as eye, nose, throat, lung irritation, coughing, sneezing, runny nose, and shortness of breath. Exposure to fine particles can also affect lung function and worsen medical conditions such as asthma and heart disease. People with breathing and heart problems, children and the elderly may be particularly sensitive to PM2.5. Outside, fine particles primarily come from cars, trucks, buses, and off-road vehicles like construction equipment, snowmobile, and locomotive exhausts. Also, the burning of fuels such as wood, heating oil or coal, and natural sources such as forest and grass fires produce PM2.5. So, when PM2.5 is high in the air, you’d better stay inside.
Enjoy reading the article and learning about the recent wildfires and PM2.5.
https://edition.cnn.com/2022/10/15/americas/vancouver-fires-air-quality-washington/index.html
Vancouver’s air quality affected as several wildfires rage
When wildfires occurred in British Columbia, Canada and Washington state, USA, people in metro Vancouver were given air quality warnings of high concentrations of fine particulate matter. What is the fine particulate matter or PM 2.5? It is an air pollutant that is a concern for people's health when levels in the air are high. PM2.5 are tiny particles in the air that reduce visibility and cause the air to appear hazy when levels are elevated. Their diameter is less than 2.5 micrometers, much smaller than that of a piece of human hair. Particles in the PM2.5 size range are able to travel deeply into the respiratory tract, reaching the lungs. Exposure to fine particles can cause short-term health effects such as eye, nose, throat, lung irritation, coughing, sneezing, runny nose, and shortness of breath. Exposure to fine particles can also affect lung function and worsen medical conditions such as asthma and heart disease. People with breathing and heart problems, children and the elderly may be particularly sensitive to PM2.5. Outside, fine particles primarily come from cars, trucks, buses, and off-road vehicles like construction equipment, snowmobile, and locomotive exhausts. Also, the burning of fuels such as wood, heating oil or coal, and natural sources such as forest and grass fires produce PM2.5. So, when PM2.5 is high in the air, you’d better stay inside.
Enjoy reading the article and learning about the recent wildfires and PM2.5.
https://edition.cnn.com/2022/10/15/americas/vancouver-fires-air-quality-washington/index.html
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