Portland has the worst air quality in the world Wednesday morning, according to a global monitor, as wildfire smoke from dozens of fires across the Pacific Northwest blanketed the Willamette Valley.
Oregon’s largest city now sits atop IQAir’s global rankings for air pollution. It held 10th place on Tuesday. The Swiss technology company that produces the global air-quality readings has, not surprisingly, labeled Portland’s air as “unhealthy.”
The smoke cloaking the Portland area’s skies mostly drifted west from eastern Oregon, where dozens of wildfires continue to burn in what is now a record-breaking fire season in the state, with more than 2 million acres burned.
While avoiding smoke exposure entirely is difficult, health experts say the best ways to protect yourself are by staying indoors, using air purifiers, wearing an N95 mask outdoors and keeping your home’s doors and windows closed.
Symptoms of smoke exposure include shortness of breath, coughing, sore throat, irritated eyes and a runny nose.
The National Weather Service says smoke is expected to start clearing from the Portland area by Friday.
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