by Kayla Benjamin<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The District\u2019s air quality broke records Thursday, hitting Code Purple because of fine particle pollution for the first time, the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments said in a media advisory released that morning. Smoke from wildfires in Canada engulfed the Northeast U.S. this week, causing unprecedented levels of air pollution. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
At some points during Thursday morning, parts of D.C. and the wider DMV region, particularly Baltimore, experienced air pollution levels at the Code Maroon, or \u201chazardous,\u201d level \u2014 the highest possible category in the U.S. Air Quality Index. The region first hit the Code Red \u201cunhealthy\u201d level on Wednesday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In a press conference Thursday morning, Mayor Muriel Bowser urged District residents to follow public safety recommendations to reduce exposure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe\u2019re asking people to take heed,\u201d Bowser said. \u201cThe basics of it are: If you don\u2019t have to be outside, don\u2019t be outside. If you do need to be outside, wear a mask.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Specifically, people should wear an N95 or KN95 mask\u2014cloth masks and surgical masks do not do anything to filter out the fine particles in smoke. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Wildfire smoke contains particulate matter, or microscopic particles of solids and liquids in the air. This pollutant is driving high numbers for pollution on the Air Quality Index<\/a>, which led to the Code Purple alert issued this morning. D.C. last experienced a Code Purple alert in 2012, but that was caused by high levels of ozone pollution; the city has never seen this level of particulate matter in the air. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cLarger particles often get filtered out in the upper airway,\u201d explained Dr. Stephanie Lovinsky-Desir, a New York City-based pediatric pulmonologist. \u201cYou might notice a runny nose or sneezing and things like that. That\u2019s our body\u2019s defense to sort of filter out some of those larger particles.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n It may seem counterintuitive, but smaller particles \u2014 often referred to as \u201cfine\u201d or \u201cultrafine\u201d particles \u2014 tend to pose more serious and long-lasting health risks, Lovinski-Desir said. That\u2019s because they can get into people\u2019s lungs and even bloodstreams. <\/p>\n\n\n\n D.C. Public Schools canceled all outdoor activities Wednesday and Thursday, including recess and sports games and practices. On Thursday, the National Zoo closed its gates to protect the safety of its animals, staff and guests. <\/p>\n\n\n\nHow is the City Reacting?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n