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Millions Warned to Monitor Health as Air Pollution Spikes Across US
4 Aug
Summary
- Air quality alerts issued across 10 states due to high ozone levels
- Sensitive groups and general public advised to limit outdoor activities
- Smoke from wildfires contributing to poor air quality in some regions
As of August 4, 2025, millions of Americans are being advised to closely monitor their health and limit outdoor activities due to a widespread air quality crisis. The National Weather Service (NWS) has issued air quality alerts across large swaths of Wisconsin, Michigan, Pennsylvania, New York, Massachusetts, Vermont, Maine, Delaware, Texas, and Colorado, warning that ground-level ozone concentrations have reached dangerous levels.
The alerts caution that both sensitive groups, such as children, seniors, and those with respiratory or heart conditions, as well as the general public, may experience adverse health effects linked to the poor air quality. In some regions, the pollution is being driven by smoke drifting in from nearby wildfires.
The NWS is urging residents to avoid strenuous outdoor activities and to seek medical attention if they experience symptoms like palpitations, shortness of breath, or unusual fatigue. Individuals with asthma are also advised to closely follow their action plans and keep their quick-relief medications on hand.
Several state environmental agencies, including those in Michigan, Maine, Massachusetts, and New York, have issued their own air quality advisories, with some areas forecast to reach the "unhealthy" category for air pollution. The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment and the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality have also sounded the alarm, warning of the potential health risks posed by the current conditions.
