Department Of Environmental Quality Offers Air Quality Information Via Monitoring Stations
As many Wyoming residents have been dealing with smoke pollution in the air due to the Badger Creek Wildfire in Medicine Bow National Forest, the Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality is reminding residents that it offers near real-time air quality information for Wyoming’s monitoring stations and health effects information to help the public get the latest on current air-quality conditions.
The DEQ’s current air quality information can be found here and their guide to the health effects and guide to their advisory levels can be found here.
"WYVISNET features live images and current air quality conditions from monitoring stations throughout Wyoming," said Nancy Vehr, Air Quality Division Administrator, in a statement.
Shane Murphy, University of Wyoming assistant professor in the Department of Atmospheric Science and director of the Center of Excellence for Air Quality, says the department has also put up an air quality monitor on the top of the UW Engineering Building which will provide accurate readings for Laramie. To view the monitor's readings, click here, then zoom in on the map to view Laramie and then click on it. Murphy said the number listed on Laramie is the air quality index, or AQI, based on particulates.
The U.S. Forest Service has also turned on an air quality monitor for Laramie, the readings of which can be viewed here.
Wildfire smoke, the DEQ warns, is made up of a variety of pollutants, including particulate matter and ozone, which can cause respiratory health effects, especially to children, the elderly and also those with existing respiratory conditions such as asthma.
People included in those groups should take care to limit outdoor activities. Vehr said she would like to remind the public that if they have health-related questions or concerns regarding wildfire smoke, to speak to their medical professional, or the Wyoming Department of Health at 307-777-7172.