PORTLAND, Ore. - According to the Oregon Health Authority (OHA), worsening air quality in Oregon is linked to an increase in emergency visits for breathing-related illnesses and mental health conditions.

The OHA's Air Quality & Health Outcomes data dashboard reveals connections between high smoke or pollution levels and spikes in visits for asthma, COPD, anxiety, and other symptoms.

"Oregon’s near-real-time data show us what we’ve long suspected—that poor air quality affects not just our lungs, but also our mental well-being," said Jen Seamans, Data and Epidemiology Unit manager.

During the 2020 wildfires, Oregon saw a 25% increase in asthma-like illness visits. In 2022, Washington County's emergency department visits for respiratory illness were 44% greater than the 2016-2019 average.

See Full Page