State officials say smoke from the western wildfires is contributing to unhealthy air in central Iowa. Brian Button, a spokesman for the Iowa Department of Natural Resources Air Quality Bureau, says the smoke has steadily made air pollution levels worse.The D-N-R has issued a warning to groups who’re sensitive, such as asthmatics and children. Button says today’s air in central Iowa is expected to hit the orange level, the second level up from normal air. He says there are two more levels above orange.Button says there could also be some unhealthy air in southeast Iowa today. He says we need a change in the hot, humid weather conditions to clear out the unhealthy air.Button says this is the first time the state has been able to predict the unhealthy air rather than report the problem after it happens. He says new technology allows them to give almost “real time” air quality conditions.This is the second time unhealthy air levels have hit central Iowa. The last time was in June of this year. Earlier, in April, unhealthy smog levels were reported in Linn, Jones, Buchanan and Delaware Counties.
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