Air Quality Alert

The Washington State Department of Ecology, Benton Clean Air Agency, and the Yakima Regional Clean Air Agency have issued an Air Quality Alert until noon PDT Wednesday.

For the Air Quality Alert, stagnant air conditions will trap smoke and other air pollutants near the ground where people breathe.

Check with your local health or air agency for current restrictions on woodstove use. There are often exceptions for those who use wood exclusively to heat their homes and those with limited income.

People can take the following precautions to protect their health:

* Follow local burn restrictions to prevent deteriorating air quality.

* Avoid strenuous outdoor activity in smoky conditions.

* People with heart or lung problems and young children are especially vulnerable. These people should stay indoors while smoke levels are high.

* Use certified High Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filters in indoor heating ventilation, cooling, and air purification systems.

* Avoid using wood-burning stoves and other sources of indoor smoke if possible.

Information from the Washington Department of Ecology web site is available at http://www.ecy.wa.gov/air.html or call 360-407-6000. Information from the Yakima Regional Clean Air Agency web site is available at http://www.yakimacleanair.org or call 509-834-2050. Information from the Benton County Clean Air Agency web site is available at http://www.bentoncleanair.org or call 509-783-1304.