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Toxic Cloud Threatens US Border Cities
18 Feb
Summary
- EPA issued highest alert for hazardous air over Texas/New Mexico.
- Toxic cloud centered near El Paso, Texas, near the Mexican border.
- Air Quality Index reached 290, considered extremely dangerous.
Hazardous air quality conditions have prompted health officials to issue urgent warnings for residents along the US southern border. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has declared the air over a 150-mile area of Texas and New Mexico to be 'hazardous' to human health.
The toxic cloud is most concentrated near El Paso, Texas, a region already under a high wind alert that may be exacerbating the situation by spreading smoke and dust. Air quality tracking indicates the presence of PM10, inhalable particles that can penetrate deep into the lungs.
Real-time monitoring shows the Air Quality Index (AQI) along the border reached 290 on Tuesday, a level considered extremely dangerous for everyone, regardless of health status. Health experts emphasize that such pollutant levels can worsen respiratory issues and increase the risk of severe health events.
