In the smoky part of the year, we get used to looking at the maps that track air qualityin the region, to see if what's out there is healthy to breathe.
Lately, it's often challenging to our lungs, noses, and throats to breathe the air without a mask. The recent situation is a reminder that we steadily get more bad-air days over the years.
We get a refresher course on what is in the air, how it is monitored, and what the risks are for our health in breathing smoky air.
Our guests are Tom Roick, Air Quality Monitoring Manager for Oregon Department of Environmental Quality, and Gabriela Goldfarb, who manages the Environmental Public Health Section at the Oregon Health Authority.
Both are guests on the second episode of DEQ's brand-new "GreenState" podcast series.