Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
West Faces 'Airpocalypse' As Smoke Makes It Hazardous To Breathe
Los Angeles Times: Because Of Fire, West Coast Has Four Of The World’s 10 Most Polluted Cities
Smoke has suffused the sky for days, replacing a bright yellow sun with a hazy red orb and raining down flakes of ash on much of the West Coast, where four cities on Sunday were among the 10 most polluted places in the world. Los Angeles, San Francisco and Seattle ranked eighth, sixth and third, respectively, but the dubious honor of worst air of any big city on the globe went to Portland, Ore., where smoke was blowing in from more than 30 blazes burning across the state. (Vives, Gerber and Hennessy-Fiske, 9/13)
The Washington Post: Dense Smoke Smothers West Coast, Shutting Residents Indoors And Complicating Fire Response
Massive clouds of smoke from the Pacific Northwest wildfires lingered over the region Sunday, posing serious health risks for millions of people and complicating firefighting efforts even as crews reported progress in slowing some of the blazes. The air quality across Oregon was listed as “hazardous” or “very unhealthy” by state environmental officials, and a dense smoke advisory from the National Weather Service remained in effect for much of the state until late Sunday or at least noon local time on Monday. Oregon officials said Sunday evening that crews are struggling to contain more than 30 fires still raging across the state — one of them stretching more than 55 miles wide, part of a burned area larger than Rhode Island. (Hawkins, Schmidt and Mufson, 9/13)
CNBC: The West Coast Is Suffering From Some Of The Worst Air In The World — These Apps Show How Bad It Is
As record-breaking fires wreak havoc on the Western United States, they’re also releasing massive amounts of smoke and ash into the atmosphere, adding to the region’s health woes. Portland, Oregon suffered from the worst air quality in the world for days. It’s currently second only to Vancouver, Canada, which is choking on smoke from the U.S. blazes. Seattle ranks third, San Francisco seventh and Los Angeles ninth, according to IQAir. To find out where and when it’s safe to go outside again, residents are flocking to air quality apps and websites like AirNow and PurpleAir in addition IQAir. (Kolodny, 9/12)
More details from Oregon, Washington and Idaho —
The Oregonian: Portland’s Air Quality Is Off The Charts Sunday, And Parts Of Oregon Are Just As Bad Due To Wildfires
The breathability of Portland’s air significantly worsened overnight and into Sunday, reaching 516 on the air quality index in the hardest hit parts of the city, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. That measurement is off the charts, which top out at 300 to 500 and categorize those numbers as “hazardous.” (Green, 9/13)
The Spokesman-Review: Record-Breaking Poor Air Quality Continues To Affect Spokane On Sunday
After record-breaking smoke conditions Saturday, experts say hazardous conditions will continue through midweek, with a bit of relief Monday. As of Sunday afternoon, Spokane’s hourly Air Quality Index reading had reached 499, which is just below the upper extreme of the 500-point scale air agencies use to monitor quality. That followed a 24-hour period Saturday that saw the worst air quality since regulators began measuring particulates in 1999. (Epperly, 9/13)
Idaho Statesman: Smoke Made Boise Air ‘Very Unhealthy’ Sunday, And It Won’t Clear For Several Days
Wildfire smoke from blazes burning across the West settled into Boise this weekend, and the thick haze isn’t likely to lift for several days, according to the local weather experts. Parts of California, Oregon and Washington have experienced “hazardous” air quality — the worst possible air quality index rating — as multiple large fires burn there. Mild smoke made its way to Idaho last week, but on Sunday, the Treasure Valley crossed the threshold to the next-worst category, “very unhealthy.” (Blanchard, 9/13)
In related news —
KGW: More People Seeking Medical Care And Advice For Breathing Issues Amid Hazardous Air Quality
Hazardous air conditions stretch far beyond the flames all across the West Coast. California's governor made a grim comparison when it comes to the impact it's having on our lung health. “The air we're breathing right now is equivalent to smoking 20 packs of cigarettes. [It] is profound and consequential,” California Governor Gavin Newsom said. (Falkers, 9/13)
ABC7 San Francisco: Poor Air Quality Causing Headaches, Taking Toll On Bay Area Residents' Mental Health, Psychologist Says
Doctor of clinical psychology Andrea Zorbas is seeing an increase in patients reporting headaches and signs of depression. The poor air quality is to blame. "In Seattle, Washington where it's raining all the time people get seasonal affective disorder and that is a form of depression caused by clouds, rain, fog and we are kind of experiencing that now," said Zorbas. (Pena, 9/13)
KATU: N95, KN95 Masks Are The Best To Wear When Air Quality Is Poor, Experts Say
With the hazardous air quality, people are asked to wear masks if they spend time outside. Brian Terrett with Legacy Health says N95 masks or KN95 masks are the most effected against smoke and coronavirus. However, he says any type of mask is better than no mask. (9/12)
