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Canadian wildfire smoke causes air quality alert in South Dakota • South Dakota Searchlight [1]

['Searchlight Staff', 'Makenzie Huber', 'Jeff Beach', 'More From Author', '- May']

Date: 2024-05 

The South Dakota Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources issued an air quality alert Monday for areas of South Dakota where smoke from wildfires in Canada has settled.

The alert is in effect through Tuesday, or until conditions improve.

Elderly people, young children and people with respiratory problems are the most susceptible to the smoke, the department said, adding that all people should avoid excessive physical exertion and minimize outdoor activities during periods of low visibility caused by the wildfire smoke. People are also encouraged to keep indoor air clean by closing windows and doors.

Air pollution can aggravate heart and cardiovascular disease as well as lung diseases like asthma and COPD. When the air quality is unhealthy, people with these conditions may experience symptoms such as chest pain, shortness of breath, wheezing, coughing or fatigue. Anyone concerned about health effects related to poor air quality should contact their health care provider.

The department provides air quality data on its website for several locations in South Dakota. Hourly fine particulate matter (PM2.5) values greater than 35 micrograms per cubic meter (ug/m3) are a concern to public health.

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[1] Url: https://southdakotasearchlight.com/briefs/canadian-wildfire-smoke-causes-air-quality-alert-in-south-dakota/

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