Americans Told to Stay Indoors in Two States
Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content.
Air quality alerts for parts of Nevada and New Mexico were issued by The National Weather Service (NWS) Friday.
In southwest Elko County in Nevada and areas downstream of the Trout Fire in Grant County, New Mexico, the general public was advised to limit outdoor activity, and vulnerable groups were advised to remain indoors to avoid potential health impacts.
Why It Matters
Severe air pollution and wildfire smoke can represent public health threats, particularly for children, older adults, and people with respiratory or cardiovascular issues.
Air pollution was linked to an estimated 63,600 deaths in the U.S. in 2021, according to Statista.
What To Know
In Nevada, an air quality alert was posted for southwest Elko County—including Elko, Ryndon, Jiggs, Lamoille, Lee, South Fork, and Spring Creek.
The alert cited "elevated particulate matter levels" likely to reach red/unhealthy air quality categories.
According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), at this level, some members of the general public may experience health effects, while members of sensitive groups may experience more serious health effects.
In New Mexico, the NWS warned of "unhealthy to hazardous" air quality due to wildfire smoke from the Trout Fire affecting the Sapillo Creek and Mimbres Valley along Highway 35 and Highway 152, between Santa Clara and San Lorenzo within Grant County.
The advisory urged "everyone" to avoid any outdoor exertion, with specific warnings for those with asthma or other respiratory conditions, who "should remain indoors," according to the alert.
"People with heart disease, symptoms such as a fast pulse or heartbeat, shortness of breath, or unusual weakness may indicate a health problem," it added.
"If you have any of these, call your health care provider."
The Trout fire, burning north of Silver City, had consumed more than 44,000 acres at the time of writing.
What People Are Saying
Professor of pediatric respiratory and environmental medicine Jonathan Grigg, with Queen Mary, University of London, previously told Newsweek: "There are vulnerable groups and classically they are children because they've got an extra issue to do with their lungs developing, whereas our lungs are not developing as adults.
"Their trajectory can be deviated so they don't actually achieve their maximum lung function."
There are also "very clear links" between inhaling particles and earlier death from both respiratory and cardiovascular diseases, Grigg said.
Additionally, Grigg said conditions such as asthma are also exacerbated by exposure to air pollution.
What Happens Next
At the time of writing, the air quality alert for New Mexico was set to remain in effect through noon Friday.
Meanwhile, the alert for Nevada was in effect until 11 a.m. on Saturday.
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