Smoke plumes from the far west and Canada have converged to create haze and poor air quality in our area. The problem is caused by the small sized particulate matter (PM2.5) which is released during wildfires and widely dispersed by clouds and wind . PM2.5 is dangerous to human health and can increase the risk of asthma and other lung problems, heart attacks and stroke among susceptible people. The Worthington Board of Health suggests that if you are at risk for these kinds of outcomes or are experiencing higher-than-usual allergic reactions, you wear an N95 mask capable of filtering out PM2.5 particulates when outdoors at least until there is significant clearing of the air.
