Hunter
05/25/23
Smoke wafting down from Canadian wildfires has been impacting Iowa air quality over the last several days, making the air quality unhealthy for sensitive groups.
According to a release from the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, levels of the National Ambient Air Quality Standard were measured Tuesday at two sites in northwest Iowa Monday and six sites across Iowa on Tuesday.
Emmetsburg and Pisgah in western Iowa, Waverly and two sites in Cedar Rapids in northeast Iowa, and just north of Davenport in eastern Iowa all measured ozone levels considered unhealthy for sensitive groups.
DNR officials say elevated particulate and ozone levels may be a concern over the next several days.
Groups most likely to suffer adverse health effects from ozone and particulates in smoke include asthmatics, those with respiratory difficulties or heart disease, the elderly, children and pregnant women. The DNR encourages members of these groups to limit outdoor activity when air quality conditions are at or above unhealthy levels.
A fire and smoke map is available on line at https://fire.airnow.gov/