China News Service, September 17-According to Reuters, wildfires in the western United States continue to be raging. The dense smoke produced by the fire has caused a sharp drop in local air quality and many people have health problems.
According to reports, as of the 15th local time, nearly 5 million acres of land in the western United States were burning.
Huge soot and thick smoke have spread in the area, exacerbating the public health crisis in the context of the new crown epidemic.
Recently, wildfires in the western United States have raged.
On September 15, local time, the White House had approved the request of Oregon Governor Kate Brown and declared that the state had entered a "major disaster" state.
64-year-old Tim Hunter lives in a suburb of Seattle. The smoke makes him feel weak and tired.
In 2017, the retired software engineer suffered lung damage due to severe flu.
Now, he said that he feels "there is not enough oxygen in the air."
In Washington State, where Hunter lives, on the 15th local time, data from various air quality inspection points showed that air quality varied from unhealthy to dangerous.
According to reports, in California, the level of particulate matter polluting the lungs has far exceeded the normal level in summer, making the sky appear strange orange and dark brown.
Hospitals in Oregon reported a 10% increase in the number of people entering the emergency room due to breathing problems.
The doctors are being overwhelmed by phone calls from patients.
The picture shows the smog covering the San Francisco Bay Area on September 9, local time.
Dr. Paul Williams, an allergy and immunology expert in Everett, Washington, said: “This really puts a burden on our asthma patients. They call us more and more frequently, and they need additional medications. treatment."
On the 15th, the State of Oregon said that in five cities, including Portland, air pollution has reached the highest level in history.
Local residents have to put towels in the cracks of the door or sleep with masks to cope.
According to reports, most of the smoke from wildfires carries particles from burning trees and plants, which are harmful to humans.
In addition, burning plastics, cars, and buildings will also release fumes with toxic chemicals.
These smoke will not only pollute the air, but also pollute nearby waterways or soil.
Reuters analysis of California air quality data shows that although smog in some areas has begun to decrease, in more than 120 locations monitored by environmental officials, except for about 20 locations, the air quality in other locations was between the 13th and the 14th. All are at a moderate to harmful level.
In San Francisco, due to its proximity to the San Francisco Bay and the Pacific Ocean, the air quality is usually not bad, but for at least six days, the PM2.5 concentration here is three times the standard concentration of 35 micrograms per cubic meter in California.
Southern California pediatrician Afif El-Hasan said that wildfire pollution will make people more susceptible to the new crown virus. He said that the best mask for filtering smoke is the N-95 mask that doctors and nurses who treat patients with new crown urgently need. This makes medical professionals hesitate to advise patients to buy.
In addition to advising people to stay at home and indoors, it is also difficult to help people get rid of bad air.
Dylan Darling, a spokesperson for the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality, said: "Usually, when we issue an air quality alert, we tell people where to go. The Oregon coast usually provides shelter or mountainous areas. But there is no place right now. You can breathe fresh air."