Stay Indoors Advisory Issued in Kansas and Oklahoma Due to Poor Air Quality

Over 750,000 Americans in the central U.S. were told to stay indoors on Tuesday as lung-penetrating toxins continue to circulate in the air. Read on for the details of this poor air quality, including what parts of the U.S. have been put on alert and why.

Thousands of Residents Across the Nation's Heartland Told to Stay Indoors

A stay indoors advisory was issued for over half a million people in Kansas and northern Oklahoma on Tuesday as air quality meters signaled increasing levels of potentially dangerous fine particulate matter. The advisory covered about 100 miles, including the populated city of Wichita in south-central Kansas.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and other independent agencies monitoring air quality numbers noted that the worst of the plume was centered over Wichita. The official air quality index was listed as "unhealthy" for even healthy people spending a prolonged period of time outdoors. A designation of unhealthy is in the middle of the range used by the EPA. The two levels that indicate a more severe danger are "very unhealthy" and "hazardous."

The stay indoors advisory covered over 600,000 residents of Wichita, in addition to 150,000 more residents in a zone from Sterling, Kansas, and into the Flint Hills region of the state.  

The air pollution warning was triggered by rising levels of PM2.5. These microscopic particles contain toxic compounds or other types of heavy metals. The particles are typically produced by factories and car exhaust. The small size of the particles makes them easier to infiltrate deep into the lungs, causing distress in even the healthiest individuals.

PM2.5 can often lead to breathing difficulties and inflammation of the lungs. These health issues are amplified when the particles are inhaled for an extended period.

Meteorologists are warning that the air in Wichita is likely to remain in the unhealthy range through at least Friday. The air quality index (AQI) across the greater metro area hit 172 at 6 am local time on Tuesday. For context, health experts say that readings between 151 and 200 are likely to impact all of the population. As such, residents are being advised to stay indoors and to limit outdoor activity.