The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy has declared an Air Quality Advisory die to elevated levels of smoke from Canadian wildfires. Pollutants, in the form of fine particulates (PM 2.5), are expected to be in the Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups range. The advisory is in effect for the following Michigan counties. Mason. Lake. Osceola. Clare. Oceana. Newaygo. Mecosta. Isabella It is recommended that, when possible, you avoid strenuous outdoor activities, especially those with heart disease and respiratory diseases like asthma. Monitor for symptoms such as wheezing, coughing, chest tightness, dizziness, or burning in nose, throat, and eyes. Reduce or eliminate activities that contribute to air pollution, such as: outdoor burning, use of residential wood burning devices. Tips for households: Keep windows closed overnight to prevent smoke from getting indoors and, if possible, run central air conditioning with MERV-13 or higher rated filters. For further information, please see EPAs Air Now site for up-to-date air quality data: https://www.airnow.gov/ For further health information, please see MDHHS Wildfire Smoke and Your Health site: https://www.michigan.gov/mdhhs/safety-injury-prev/environmental-health/ your-health-and-wildfire-smoke
