Oregon Health Authority is publishing updated guidance to help families and youth-serving organizations, such as schools and athletic leagues, make decisions about participation in outdoor activities during wildfire smoke and other air pollution events.
The update to the Oregon Air Quality Guide for Children and Youth reflects the increasing scientific evidence that smoke can harm the health of children at lower levels of exposure than previously thought. All children and youth 18 and younger are considered a population sensitive to smoke. Particles in the air measuring less than 2.5 microns, known as PM2.5, can penetrate deep into the lungs and travel through the bloodstream, causing damage throughout the body.