News & Notices

Monday, September 14, 2020 Fine particle pollution measured in Spokane’s air yesterday (24 hour average) was 468.6 micrograms/cubic meter of air. This is more than 13 times the national, health-based standard of 35 micrograms/cubic meter of air, 24 hour average, midnight to midnight. Concentrations of fine particles are converted to an Air Quality Index scale…

According to the Washington State Department of health, “This wildfire season will be especially challenging during the COVID-19 pandemic. There is concern about the health impacts of wildfire smoke overlapping with COVID-19 because both impact respiratory and immune systems. COVID-19 restrictions limit how we can reduce our reduce exposure to wildfire smoke.” Because of this,…

We think learning how to take care of the environment is important. With the Spokane EnviroKids’ Club, students in kindergarten through sixth grade in Spokane County can team up to explore all parts of the environment: air, water, weather, garbage & recycling, plants & animals.  “The EnviroKids’ Club is a great way for students to…

Ground-level ozone is a harmful, invisible air pollutant most prevalent in Spokane during the hot months of July and August.  What is ozone and why is it a summer air pollution problem? Ozone can be "good" or "bad" depending on its location in the atmosphere. In the upper atmosphere,"good" ozone is produced naturally and protects…

The Washington Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has already responded to nearly 500 wildfire starts this year. This is an unprecedented increase over previous years. According to DNR this is because of people cleaning their yards during the pandemic. It’s important to note that burning outdoors is not an option in most areas of Spokane…

Searching for an easy way to access current and forecasted air quality? EPA’s AirNow has the solution in the palm of your hand. With a sleek new look and improved functionality, the AirNow mobile app is free and works for both Apple and Android devices. Once downloaded from the Apple App Store or the Google…