Air Quality
Air Quality
The terrible air quality in Maryland and DC is due to wildfire smoke. Here is what The Intersection reported.
Over a two-day period, the air quality in D.C. and Maryland has increasingly gotten worse. Today, environmental protection agencies have issued a Code Red Alert. The region’s air quality is negatively affected by wildfires in New Jersey, and Nova Scotia, Canada, according to various news outlets. Wildfire smoke is also affecting New York and South Carolina. In DC and Maryland, it is believed that the smog should thin out by Saturday. DC has canceled all outside activities for its school system. Prince George’s County has made no such announcement.
The pollution is detrimental to everyone, especially those residents with asthma, the elderly, and those impacted by Long Covid, which causes ongoing respiratory issues. Currently, residents are strongly encouraged to stay indoors. However, staying inside will be hard for the unhoused and some working-class residents. Working class people often have jobs that require them to stay outside for long periods of time. Furthermore, there is limited homeless shelters for unhoused people. This is especially true for Prince George’s County. If you’re able to get a mask, public health officials advise you to wear them.
Read more here.