Seattle's Air Quality Is Among The Worst In The Nation
The regional air quality forecast for Thursday, Oct. 20, is unhealthy conditions for all residents, especially for sensitive groups. Multiple wildfires in the Cascades caused unhealthy to very unhealthy air quality in King, Snohomish, and Pierce Counties on Wednesday. The unhealthy air quality can cause health symptoms like itchy eyes, sore throat, and headache to more serious symptoms for at-risk groups. Doctors are worried about long-term health impacts on those that can’t come inside. Prolonged outdoor activity is not advisable. “We're worried about people who are maybe occupationally exposed to higher levels of smoke like a firefighter who's outdoors fighting wildfire smoke for 12 hours a day for the whole season,” said Dr. Cora Sack, a pulmonologist at the UW Medicine in the Department of Medicine and Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences. Dr. Sack said older adults, pregnant women, and younger children are also at a higher risk. “People s...