PORTLAND — Portland’s air quality has deteriorated to downright dangerous levels in the past 24 hours — making it the worst among major cities across the globe.
The air quality monitoring website IQAir.com, which ranks air pollution across nearly 100 cities internationally, elevated Portland Friday to its No. 1 position — as in the worst, with an overall air quality index of 239. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s website listed Portland’s measurement Friday as even higher, at 349.
Portland is followed on IQAir.com’s ranking by other West Coast cities also plagued by wildfires. San Francisco is No. 2 with an air quality index of 186 and Seattle was No. 3 was a 172 on Friday morning.
A measurement of 0 or 50 is considered good, 50 to 100 is moderate, 100 to 150 is unhealthy for sensitive groups and over 150 is unhealthy for everyone. Levels of 300 to 500 are deemed hazardous.
Other parts of Oregon are hampered by heavy smoke, as well. Lincoln City is registering at 195, Medford at 302, Roseburg at 347, Eugene at 437 and Salem at 456.
Officials are advising all residents to stay indoors unless absolutely necessary. Officials are particularly worried about homeless individuals, as well as people who have jobs outdoors.
To check the air quality in your area, visit IQair.com. Or visit the EPA’s air quality website, airnow.gov, and type in your city or ZIP code. View interactive maps at the state’s web page, oregonsmoke.blogspot.com, or the EPA’s web page, fire.airnow.gov.
The air quality index shows the amount of microscopic particles smaller than 2.5 micrometers in diameter per cubic meter of air. These tiny smoke particles can embed themselves into the lungs, even entering the bloodstream where they can do further harm.
Common short-term side effects of inhaling smoke particles are eye irritation, sore throat, runny nose, phlegm production, wheezy breathing and headaches.
The Natural Resources Defense Council studied one year, 2012, of wildfires in Oregon and concluded that it led to measurable health consequences, including nearly 2,000 emergency room visits, 92 admissions to the hospital for lung and heart problems, 226 premature deaths and $2.1 billion in total health costs.
