The Salem area is under an air quality advisory due to smog until Thursday evening, according to the state Department of Environmental Quality.
The agency said in its advisory that the level of smog expected Thursday afternoon could be unhealthy for sensitive groups, including children, seniors, pregnant women and people with heart disease or respiratory conditions.
“Health officials recommend sensitive groups limit outdoor activity when pollution levels are high,” according to DEQ’s advisory, which covered the Salem and Oregon City areas.
The agency recommended people limit driving by using public transit, carpooling or another alternative, avoid unnecessary engine idling, refuel vehicles during cooler evening hours, and postpone lawn mowing, using leaf blowers, painting and aerosol spray projects.
Smog irritates the eyes, nose and lungs, and contributes to breathing problems. Anyone who sees those symptoms worsen should consult their health care provider, DEQ said in the advisory.
When heat and low winds combine with pollution from cars, gas-powered engines and chemicals in paints and aerosols, the air pollutants then react with sunlight and heat to produce ozone and haze, according to the advisory. Smog increases with exposure to sunlight and is typically its highest during afternoons and early evenings.
Current air quality conditions and advisories are available on DEQ’s Air Quality Index or the free OregonAIR smartphone app.
The advisory is also available in Spanish.
Contact reporter Ardeshir Tabrizian: [email protected] or 503-929-3053.
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Ardeshir Tabrizian has covered criminal justice and housing for Salem Reporter since September 2021. As an Oregon native, his award-winning watchdog journalism has traversed the state. He has done reporting for The Oregonian, Eugene Weekly and Malheur Enterprise.
