Question:

Yup… it’s been real bad in Austin and my co-asthmatics at work and I are all suffering, particularly at night… coughing, sore throat, waking up with an attack.   Also.. I was just in Northern New Mexico where the smoke was lesser than Austin, but something else is definatly going on there too… was worse than down here, allergies and asthma. Home is still okay, just had to kick the HEPA filter onto high and leave it there for the past two weeks. I hope it rains or something.                         -Brian

: Hi all, : I was wondering if any one is have more problems caused from the fire in : Mexico?   : I have noticed that our skies are real hazy in the mornings, but once the : wind blows for a few hours it clears up.  I have woken up  with coughing : for several nights and wonder if this is the cause.  I have also been : having more problems on the golf course with not any my play but more : asthma symptoms.  I live in the northwest corner of New Mexico. : Yes, that is part of the USA.  take care Pam.

Response:

Yeah, this is ugly.  A while back some of that smoke made it’s way up to St. Louis.  I was flying home from North Carolina that day and the smoke was bad enough to slow air traffic in and out of St. Louis.  We flew through that smoke and it was just strange.  It was from ground level all the way up to our altitude at 31,000 ft.  The air at that altitude was a blue-grey. When we landed I didn’t notice the smoke as much but there was a foggy cast to things.  The particles didn’t seem to bother me too much, but we got rain soon so that probably had a lot to do with it. I presume that a problem could exist for more than just Texas and for a bit longer than just till May 27 (tomorow). Loki [snip to make the news server happy] – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – The TNRCC is monitoring the situation and will continue providing daily updates. A toll-free information hotline set up by the TNRCC, 1-800-687-4040, is still in operation.

Response:

Please pardon me, since I am new to this newsgroup, but I thought I might share this with fellow Texas residents. I found this information on the web site of the Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission (www.tnrcc.state.tx.us/). The press release has a  phone number that might be helpful. Angela PUBLIC HEALTH ALERT REMAINS IN EFFECT THROUGH MAY 27                    Rain Showers Could Extinguish Some Fires A public health alert remains in effect through Wednesday, May 27 for the State of Texas because of persistent smoke from fires in Mexico. The alert was issued by the Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission (TNRCC) and the Texas Department of Health. The TNRCC and the Texas Department of Health remind Texas residents that:    1.People in the affected areas with respiratory conditions and heart disease, and the elderly,      should avoid physical exertion and outdoor activity. Because the particles are so small,      physical exertion should be avoided even if indoors by this group.    2.Everyone else, especially children, should consider avoiding prolonged physical exertion, even      indoors, and consider avoiding outdoor activity. On Monday, visibility was reduced to less than seven miles for much of the eastern half of Texas, east of a line from Del Rio to San Angelo to Abilene to Texarkana. Along the Rio Grande, from McAllen to Laredo to Del Rio and into south and central Texas as far east as Austin and New Braunfels, the smoke reduced visibility to four to five miles. Another patch of smoke was reducing visibility northwest of Houston, extending north to Huntsville and College Station. Satellite images show a patchy stream of smoke continuing to move into Texas from the south-southeast. More smoke should move into Texas on Tuesday and Wednesday, affecting primarily the eastern two-thirds of the state, east of a line from Del Rio to San Angelo to Wichita Falls. By Wednesday and Thursday, the smoke should shift into West Texas and possibly into the Panhandle if the fires are not extinguished by rain showers in southeast Mexico. The TNRCC is monitoring the situation and will continue providing daily updates. A toll-free information hotline set up by the TNRCC, 1-800-687-4040, is still in operation.

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hi all, I was wondering if any one is have more problems caused from the fire in Mexico? I have noticed that our skies are real hazy in the mornings, but once the wind blows for a few hours it clears up.  I have woken up  with coughing for several nights and wonder if this is the cause.  I have also been having more problems on the golf course with not any my play but more asthma symptoms.  I live in the northwest corner of New Mexico. Yes, that is part of the USA.  take care Pam. In central Alabama, we have had yellow or red ozone alerts every day for the past couple of weeks. Heavy haze most days. One day we could only see the sun as a dull, red ball. It varies from day to day, but not a lot. We have also had unusually hot weather for this time of year. No rain during this period. Fortunately, I have been able to stay indoors for most of the day, most of the time, but peak flows are less than normal. Not, thank goodness, low enough — yet — to step up medications. I think most parts of the country have been affected somewhat, but of course the nearer to the source, the worse the problem.

Yes, I’ve not been able to breath at all!  My asthma has worsened.  I live in the central plains of New Mexico and it is horrid.  Will it ever stop?

Response:

I was wondering if any one is have more problems caused from the fire in Mexico?  

This morning there was a mention on the radio of it and related health problems. That was the first I’d heard of it and wasn’t paying much attention. I don’t think the smoke has reached NYC. Just what is this fire? Don (at panix com).

Response:

Don, There are uncontrolled forrest fires burning in Mexico and have been for weeks.  The US and the Corp of engineers just recently sent personnel to help find a way to curb or put out the fire.  its effect the mid-western states but has been moving and I’ve heard of problems as far as Alabama.   I guess it depends on which way the wind blows.  Its been causing serious problems for those with history of respiratory problems and allergies.   Here in central Texas we had three days in which the smoke was so thick in the upper atmosphere that it completely blocked out the sun.  Take about your "green house effect"!!  It was really bad!!!  Begreatful if you are not having problems in NYC but I thought NYC had terrible pollution problems as is. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I was wondering if any one is have more problems caused from the fire in Mexico?   This morning there was a mention on the radio of it and related health problems. That was the first I’d heard of it and wasn’t paying much attention. I don’t think the smoke has reached NYC. Just what is this fire? Don (at panix com).

Response:

Hi all, I was wondering if any one is have more problems caused from the fire in Mexico?

I sure am.  They say the particles are too small to be filtered out.  I think the filters at my house and work are doing a good job, but driving home is miserable!  Today I almost rear-ended someone because I had a sudden coughing and sneezing fit.  Not to mention what the stuff that collects in your lungs looks like. If anyone has any ideas on what works, please post.   Denilyn

Response:

Hello Pam, I live in central Texas and we have had it really bad.  Two or three days of no sun at all.  Completely blocked out by the smoke.  Really high humidity and stagnant  air.  Its been really bad on those of us with respiratory problems and allergies. It improved for a day or so with the wind but seems to have stagnated again.  Good luck….My family ahs been hiding in the house and my childrens school can understand why al the kids are out sick after forced place on the playground in this muck and 97 plus degree temps.

Response:

Here in South Texas, we’ve been having problems with smoke since about the first of May. My daughter’s peak flows dropped 25% and have pretty much stayed in the yellow zone no matter what we do. After about two weeks of it she developed bronchitis. The last few days have been better: we have actually seen a few green zone peak flows and she’s not coughing as much. But they tell us that the wind is shifting again and we can expect the smoke to return. She’s just thrilled at the prospect of being on extra meds for another three or four weeks. Not to mention no going outside. Guess we all need to pray for rain in Mexico.

Response:

Hi all, I was wondering if any one is have more problems caused from the fire in Mexico?   I have noticed that our skies are real hazy in the mornings, but once the wind blows for a few hours it clears up.  I have woken up  with coughing for several nights and wonder if this is the cause.  I have also been having more problems on the golf course with not any my play but more asthma symptoms.  I live in the northwest corner of New Mexico. Yes, that is part of the USA.  take care Pam.

Response:

Hi all, I was wondering if any one is have more problems caused from the fire in Mexico? I have noticed that our skies are real hazy in the mornings, but once the wind blows for a few hours it clears up.  I have woken up  with coughing for several nights and wonder if this is the cause.  I have also been having more problems on the golf course with not any my play but more asthma symptoms.  I live in the northwest corner of New Mexico. Yes, that is part of the USA.  take care Pam.

In central Alabama, we have had yellow or red ozone alerts every day for the past couple of weeks. Heavy haze most days. One day we could only see the sun as a dull, red ball. It varies from day to day, but not a lot. We have also had unusually hot weather for this time of year. No rain during this period. Fortunately, I have been able to stay indoors for most of the day, most of the time, but peak flows are less than normal. Not, thank goodness, low enough — yet — to step up medications. I think most parts of the country have been affected somewhat, but of course the nearer to the source, the worse the problem.

Response: