RALEIGH, North Carolina. – Areas of central North Carolina, northwestern South Carolina and North Georgia are under alert for poor air quality on Tuesday.
This Tuesday morning it was forecast that portions of that region are under code red and others are under code orange.
However, the predominant code throughout the day is expected to be Code Orange.
What does the orange alert represent?
In the air quality index, an orange alert represents unhealthy air quality for certain more sensitive groups.
Older adults, children and those who suffer from respiratory problems such as asthma should avoid exposing themselves outdoors for long periods of time.
How dangerous is exposure to the air in this alert?
The alerts indicate a potential health risk due to elevated amounts of fine particulate matter in the air, or PM2.5 for its acronym in English.
These particles can reach the deepest parts of the lungs and aggravate asthma and other lung conditions and have been linked to heart problems.
Smoke and accompanying high levels of PM2.5 began to drift from Canada to North Carolina on Tuesday, reaching levels sufficient to declare a red alert overnight and Wednesday morning.
Dr. Rafael Torres spoke for Univision 40 about the effects and consequences that it can cause to people’s health. He pointed out that the people who are most at risk are: smokers, since they will have decreased oxygen exchange; people who have asthma; who have chronic lung diseases; acute viral or bacterial illnesses in their airways, and people recovering from Covid.
“The first thing to do is avoid polluted air, and one way to do it is to be in spaces that have cleaner air, such as homes. You should avoid being outside, working in open spaces and in the event that you are outside, people should wear industrial masks,” said Rafael Torres.
He explained that babies are the most vulnerable in the situation of poor air quality. He said that they have no coping or defense mechanisms because they are so young.
Since then, PM2.5 levels have dropped significantly, but not enough, so the orange alert is expected to remain through Thursday.
Smoke may linger through Friday, but the low pressure system is expected to move smoke eastward through the weekend.
Share with Univision what the sky looks like in your region
It may interest you:
1/32
Timelapse made by Univision 41 shows the way in which smoke covered the Big Apple between Tuesday morning and Wednesday morning. The environmental alert made this day New York the most polluted city in the world.
2/32
Poor air quality in New York produced an unusual landscape on Wednesday, June 6, where an orange sun was observed in various parts of the state. All caused by smoke from wildfires in Canada.
Anadolu Agency/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images
3/32
It looked like an eclipse, but the phenomenon that generated these colors was another.
Crédito: Anadolu Agency/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images
Click here to continue with the gallery
4/32
Sal and Lilly Murphy, from Brooklyn, compared the burning aroma to that of a campfire. They said that they could smell it even in closed spaces, in a restaurant in Manhattan, and that when they left they saw that the sky looked like it was going to unleash a storm, but it was not raining. Lilly put on a mask to protect herself from her. “It’s a little scary,” Sal Murphy said.
Credit: Univision New York
Anadolu Agency/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images
5/32
The brightness of the sun stands out in the midst of a dense smoke that covers the skyscrapers of the city that never sleeps.
Crédito: Anadolu Agency/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images
6/32
This is how New York City woke up on June 7.
Credit: Seth Wenig/AP
Click here to continue with the gallery
Gary Hershorn/Getty Images
7/32
A powerful orange color dyes the air in New York, caused by forest fires in Canada, more than a thousand kilometers from the city.
Crédito: Gary Hershorn/Getty Images
Gary Hershorn/Getty Images
8/32
A beautiful image captured by photographer Gary Hershorn.
Crédito: Gary Hershorn/Getty Images
9/32
In this photograph by Seth Wenig, the lantern appears to be shining into the sun. The colors gray and orange produce fear in some people.
Credit: Seth Wenig/AP
Click here to continue with the gallery
Bloomberg/Bloomberg via Getty Images
10/32
Skyscrapers and Central Park shrouded in smoke from Canada’s wildfires.
Crédito: Bloomberg/Bloomberg via Getty Images
Gary Hershorn/Getty Images
11/32
It looks like an orange balloon over the skyscraper, but it’s the sun in an unusual color.
Crédito: Gary Hershorn/Getty Images
Spencer Platt/Getty Images
12/32
Manhattan covered by smoke. Authorities have issued an advisory for poor air quality.
Crédito: Spencer Platt/Getty Images
Click here to continue with the gallery
Spencer Platt/Getty Images
13/32
Authorities and experts recommend going out as little as possible, especially for people suffering from respiratory infections.
Crédito: Spencer Platt/Getty Images
Spencer Platt/Getty Images
14/32
Tourists who usually go up to the skyscrapers to observe the city are surprised by the quality of the air.
Crédito: Spencer Platt/Getty Images
15/32
A misty New York City skyline as seen from Jersey City.
Credit: Seth Wenig/AP
Click here to continue with the gallery
16/32
The smoke that covers the skyscrapers offers an apocalyptic and dystopian image.
Credit: Seth Wenig/AP
17/32
The authorities have recommended that the population try to go out as little as possible.
Credit: Seth Wenig/AP
18/32
Jersey City buildings hidden in smoke from the fires.
Credit: Patrick Sison/AP
Click here to continue with the gallery
19/32
This is what the stadium looked like in the game between the Yankees and the Chicago White Sox on Tuesday, June 6.
Credit: Frank Franklin II/AP
20/32
The Hudson River in thick mist.
Credit: Patrick Sison/AP
21/32
The New York City skyline is seen through the haze of Yankee Stadium.
Credit: Frank Franklin II/AP
Click here to continue with the gallery
22/32
The New York City skyline, seen through fog, on June 6, 2023, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
Credit: Frank Franklin II/AP
23/32
The smoke coming from Canada from the forest fires keeps New York City on environmental alert for the high concentration of particles in the air. They ask to wear a mask when leaving.
Credit: Seth Wenig/AP
24/32
The city is maintained this Wednesday with this layer of smoke that gives orange tones to the sky.
Credit: Seth Wenig/AP
Click here to continue with the gallery
25/32
The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation has issued a health advisory. “Active children and adults and people with lung conditions, such as asthma, should do less intense or prolonged physical exercise outdoors,” the alert states.
Credit: Seth Wenig/AP
26/32
Doctor Joseph Varón explained that people with a lung disease may be the most affected. There are people who have very sensitive lungs and even a minimal exposure of minutes makes them feel very bad, ”he explained.
Credit: Univision New York
27/32
The New York government pointed out that exposure to these particles can bring certain discomforts.
Credit: Univision New York
Click here to continue with the gallery
28/32
A ‘code orange’ air quality alert means that concentrations of air pollution within the region may become unhealthy for sensitive groups.
Credit: Univision New York
29/32
Experts and authorities pointed out these recommendations given the air conditions in the City: Keep the windows closed. Use an air purifier if you have one.
Credit: Univision New York
30/32
The mixed haze and smoke that hung over New York City for much of Tuesday thickened late in the afternoon, making it impossible to see New Jersey from across the Hudson River.
Credit: Univision New York
Click here to continue with the gallery
31/32
New York Governor Kathy Hochul said the hazy skies were “hard to ignore” Tuesday, and New York City Mayor Eric Adams encouraged residents to limit outdoor activity “to strictly necessary”.
Credit: Univision New York
32/32
Air quality flaps are caused by a number of factors, including the detection of fine particle pollution, known as “PM 2.5”, which can irritate the lungs.
Credit: Univision New York
2023-07-18 11:32:00
#Areas #Georgia #North #Carolina #South #Carolina #alert #poor #air #quality
