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Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality Issues Air Quality Alert

This map from the Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality shows the measured air quality levels across the state Monday, Aug. 2.
Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality
This map from the Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality shows the measured air quality levels across the state Monday, Aug. 2.

Sore throat and congestion? Given the recent rise in COVID infections, the symptoms might be scary. However, it could have another cause: wildfires.

The Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality issued an air quality warning Monday.

Fires in the western U.S. and Canada have filled the air with smoke, raising the risk level to orange, or “unhealthy for sensitive groups” across most of the state. That includes central Oklahoma. Tulsa and Washington Counties are in the red, which states that active children and adults or people with respiratory diseases such as asthma should say inside.

Catherine Sweeney grew up in Muskogee, Oklahoma, and attended Oklahoma State University. She has covered local, state and federal government for outlets in Oklahoma, Colorado and Washington, D.C.
StateImpact Oklahoma reports on education, health, environment, and the intersection of government and everyday Oklahomans. It's a reporting project and collaboration of KGOU, KOSU, KWGS and KCCU, with broadcasts heard on NPR Member stations.
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