The air around Portland and Vancouver, alongside Marion and Umatilla counties, comes with a health warning today due to an overburden of smog, as officially announced by the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality and the Southwest Clean Air Agency.
An advisory in effect until 8 p.m. on August 8 for the Portland-Vancouver metro area and Marion County and until the same time yesterday for Umatilla County hints at elevated ozone levels that can particularly affect children, pregnant individuals, the elderly, and those with pre-existing cardiac or respiratory conditions, the agencies warned; health officials are advising those vulnerable to take it easy outside when smog levels spike.
To battle the toxic haze that's setting over the region's cities and towns, residents are being encouraged to switch up their habits - consider public transit or car-sharing to get where they need to go and put off any errands or projects that crank up the pollution even more, like mowing the lawn or touch-up painting.
Ozone is the culprit behind irritated eyes, throats, and lungs, catalyzing breathing difficulties, so consult a health professional if you're feeling the strain, DEQ and SWCAA suggest, the noxious blend of vehicle fumes, gas engines, volatile chemicals team up with sunlight, stewing in the day's heat, triggering the formation of smog which tends to peak in the late afternoon, although monitoring might give the all-clear in the morning, don't let that fool you - conditions could deteriorate swiftly as the day rolls on.
For more specifics on the advisory and suggestions for healthcare steps to take if affected, visit the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality's official advisory notice at DEQ's post.
