[ADEQ Media] ADEQ, ADHS Issue Smoke Advisory For Town Of Maricopa (September 21, 2007)

Fri Sep 21 11:22:46 MST 2007

PHOENIX - (September, 21, 2007) The Arizona Department of Environmental
Quality and Arizona Department of Health Services have issued a smoke
advisory for residents of the Town of Maricopa as a result of the tire
fire at the Arizona Rubber Recycling facility.

The two state agencies are urging residents of the Town of Maricopa and
persons on the Ak-Chin Indian Community to be alert for changing weather
conditions that may cause smoke from the tire fire to shift into these
communities from time to time.

While smoke from the fire, burning near Maricopa, has not yet caused
dangerous levels of smoke, the changing weather conditions today and
over the weekend may result in periods when smoke from the fire may
reach unhealthful levels in nearby communities.

"We issued the smoke advisory as a precautionary step to insure that
people with respiratory problems and other breathing difficulties can
take steps to protect their health from exposure to the smoke," said
ADEQ Director Steve Owens. 

Smoke from burning tires is a mixture of gases and fine particles from
burning rubber and other components of tires. Smoke from tire fires is
more irritating and potentially more harmful to your health than smoke
from wood. It can irritate your respiratory system and eyes and worsen
chronic heart and lung diseases.

Persons with pre-existing breathing problems should be prepared to stay
indoors and turn off any evaporative coolers if smoke conditions
warrant. Some residents may consider finding an alternative place to
stay until the fire is under better control.

How to tell if smoke is affecting you:

Smoke can cause coughing, a scratchy throat, irritated sinuses,
shortness of breath, chest pain, headaches, stinging eyes and a runny
nose.

If you have heart or lung disease, smoke might make your symptoms worse.
People who have heart disease might experience chest pain, rapid
heartbeat, shortness of breath and fatigue.

Smoke may worsen symptoms for people who have pre-existing respiratory
conditions such as respiratory allergies, asthma, and chronic
obstructive pulmonary disease, (COPD) in the following ways: inability
to breathe normally, cough with or without mucus, chest discomfort,
wheezing and shortness of breath.

When smoke levels are high enough, even healthy people may experience
some of these symptoms.

For more information about health and safety during a fire, please visit
the Arizona Department of Health Services' Web site at www.azdhs.gov
<http://www.azdhs.gov/>  or call the State Public Health Information
line at (602) 364-4500 or statewide toll-free at (800) 314-9243

-end-

"News media interested in additional information on this or any other
topic concerning the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality should
contact the Office of Communications at (602) 771-2215 or via email at
communications@azdeq.gov."

**********************************************************************
NOTICE: This e-mail (and any attachments) may contain PRIVILEGED OR CONFIDENTIAL information and is intended only for the use of the specific individual(s) to whom it is addressed.  It may contain information that is privileged and confidential under state and federal law.  This information may be used or disclosed only in accordance with law, and you may be subject to penalties under law for improper use or further disclosure of the information in this e-mail and its attachments. If you have received this e-mail in error, please immediately notify the person named above by reply e-mail, and then delete the original e-mail.  Thank you.
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: http://lists.azdeq.gov/pipermail/media/attachments/20070921/5ce7efd2/attachment.htm