1. Current Air Quality
- National Weather Service Seattle Briefings & Information |
- Air Quality: Alerts | Seattle | South Park | Puget Sound Map | PS CleanAir | Forecast | WASmoke | PurpleAir Monitors | IQair |
- Air Quality: WA Dept of Ecology | AirNow.gov |
- World's Air Pollution: Real-time Air Quality Index (waqi.info)
- Fire smoke is forecasted Here.
- Fire smoke preparedness Here. (flyers for printouts)
- Wildfire Information DNR, InciWeb
- Fire and Smoke Map (airnow.gov)
- National Significant Wildland Fire Potential Outlook identifies areas by month for 4 months with above, below, and near normal significant fire potential.
- Lightning Map Here
2. Air Safety Levels
The Air Quality Index, or AQI, ranges from 0 to 500, based on the amount of pollution in the air at a given time. Ground-level ozone, particulate matter (both PM10 and PM2.5), carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide and nitrogen dioxide are the primary parameters considered in the index.
Green is Good (0-50)
Code orange (above a score of 100) is unhealthy for people with heart and lung disease, older adults, children and people with diabetes.
Code red and above (151–500) is unhealthy for everyone.
Green is Good (0-50)
Code orange (above a score of 100) is unhealthy for people with heart and lung disease, older adults, children and people with diabetes.
Code red and above (151–500) is unhealthy for everyone.
3. Reduce Your Risk to Smokey Air
1) Stay indoors 2) Close windows 3) Filter/purify room air 4) Switch A/C to recirculate air
5) Use N95 masks 6) Seek air-conditioned spaces such as B Building community rooms
1) Stay indoors 2) Close windows 3) Filter/purify room air 4) Switch A/C to recirculate air
5) Use N95 masks 6) Seek air-conditioned spaces such as B Building community rooms
4. Choosing an Air Purifier
Considerations
- HEPA Filter vs Other Technology
- CADR: Clean Air Delivery Rate, measured in Cubic Meters per Hour or Cubic Feet per Minute (CFM).
- Room Size in square feet or square meters (depends on CADR measurement)
- Air Changes per Hour: based on CADR and Room Size
- Purpose: Allergies & Asthma; Mold; Pets; Smoke & Odor; Virus & Bacteria
- Other Considerations: Purchase Cost; Cost of Filters; Noise Level (db(A)); Energy Consumption (W); Air Quality Sensor; WiFi Enabled; On/Off Timer; Dimensions; Weight.
- Note 1: Without CADR, efficiency rating like 99.8% efficiency doesn't tell you much.
- Note 2: BlueAir.com provides detailed comparisons between its models.
- Note 3: Consider purchasing an indoor Air Quality Meter (AQM) to let you know how your air purifier is performing. Here is an Example AQM on Amazon.
- Note 4: CO2 level meter in the above example will let you know if the air is getting too stale.
- normal outdoor level: 350 - 450 ppm
- acceptable levels: < 600 ppm
- complaints of stuffiness and odors: 600 - 1000 ppm
- general drowsiness: 1000 - 2500 ppm
- adverse health effects may be expected: 2500 - 5000 ppm
- In general - ventilation rates should keep carbon dioxide concentrations below 1000 ppm to create indoor air quality conditions acceptable to most individuals.
5. DIY Air Filters
DIY Sources:
- Corsi-Rosenthal Cube - Encycla
- DIY box fan air filters – Corsi-Rosenthal box - Clean Air Crew
- DIY Air Purification Designs (edgecollective.io)
- THE Corsi/Rosenthal Box FAQ - Clean Air Crew
- A Variation on the "Box Fan with MERV 13 Filter" Air Cleaner
- How a MERV 13 Air Filter and a Box Fan Can Help Fight Covid-19
- Mass Production of Corsi-Rosenthal Box Fan-Filters / Twitter
Five Demonstrations for Building a Corsi-Rosenthal (Covid Cube) Air Filter Box
The design was made for removing aerosols containing SARS-CoV-2 viruses.
It also works for smoke particulates, dust mites, and pollen, using MERV-13/14 furnace filters.
Notes:
1. Filters can be 20x20x1 or 20x20x2. Thicker filters offer less resistance to air flow.
2. Fan shrouds with circular 19" holes provide better air flow.
3. Pleats in vertical alignment are less prone to sagging.
4. Observe the arrows on the filters to make sure air flows in the correct orientation.
The design was made for removing aerosols containing SARS-CoV-2 viruses.
It also works for smoke particulates, dust mites, and pollen, using MERV-13/14 furnace filters.
Notes:
1. Filters can be 20x20x1 or 20x20x2. Thicker filters offer less resistance to air flow.
2. Fan shrouds with circular 19" holes provide better air flow.
3. Pleats in vertical alignment are less prone to sagging.
4. Observe the arrows on the filters to make sure air flows in the correct orientation.
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6. Air Quality Health Effects
Western wildfires’ health risks extend across the country
Those fires devastating communities in the West send bad air traveling, boosting emergency room visits in the East
By Megan Sever / June 17, 2022
ScienceNews.org
Those fires devastating communities in the West send bad air traveling, boosting emergency room visits in the East
By Megan Sever / June 17, 2022
ScienceNews.org
Estimated Mortality and Morbidity Attributable to Smoke Plumes in the United States:
Not Just a Western US Problem
Katelyn O’Dell, Kelsey Bilsback, Bonne Ford, Sheena E. Martenies,
Sheryl Magzamen, Emily V. Fischer, Jeffrey R. Pierce
First published: 21 August 2021
https://doi.org/10.1029/2021GH000457
Not Just a Western US Problem
Katelyn O’Dell, Kelsey Bilsback, Bonne Ford, Sheena E. Martenies,
Sheryl Magzamen, Emily V. Fischer, Jeffrey R. Pierce
First published: 21 August 2021
https://doi.org/10.1029/2021GH000457
Health Impact Assessment of the 2020 Washington State Wildfire Smoke Episode:
Excess Health Burden Attributable to Increased PM2.5 Exposures and Potential Exposure Reductions
Yisi Liu, Elena Austin, Jianbang Xiang, Tim Gould, Tim Larson, Edmund Seto
First published: 16 April 2021
https://doi.org/10.1029/2020GH000359
Excess Health Burden Attributable to Increased PM2.5 Exposures and Potential Exposure Reductions
Yisi Liu, Elena Austin, Jianbang Xiang, Tim Gould, Tim Larson, Edmund Seto
First published: 16 April 2021
https://doi.org/10.1029/2020GH000359
7. Comments