"An air quality tracking system from the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) detected an extremely hazardous pocket of polluted air around the Pittsburgh suburbs, just ten miles south of the Pennsylvania city. Live data captured sharply elevated levels of PM2.5, microscopic particles composed of toxic compounds or heavy metals that are small enough to penetrate the lungs, exacerbate respiratory issues such as asthma, and contribute to heart attacks."
"The increased levels have been linked to recent wildfire smoke, which exacerbates a condition called stagnant air, where little to no wind and high atmospheric pressure trap pollution near ground level. Air quality levels are measured on a scale from 0 to 500: good (0-50) carries little risk, moderate (51-100) may affect sensitive individuals, unhealthy for sensitive groups (101-150) poses increased risk and unhealthy (151-200) impacts everyone, limiting outdoor activity."
Hundreds of thousands of Americans across Pennsylvania, Georgia, Alabama, and Oklahoma face hazardous outdoor air and warnings to stay indoors. The EPA detected an extremely hazardous pocket of polluted air near Pittsburgh suburbs and declared large swaths of eastern Oklahoma and central Georgia unhealthy. Live monitoring showed sharply elevated PM2.5, microscopic particles that can penetrate lungs, worsen asthma and raise heart attack risk. Officials linked the increased pollution to wildfire smoke combined with stagnant air caused by high atmospheric pressure and little wind that traps pollutants near the surface. Air Quality Index readings reached 192 in Glassport, Pennsylvania, while other readings exceeded 150.
Read at Mail Online
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