Brazilians ‘Struggling to Breathe’ as Amazon Burns

AFP/APP
Brazil: Residents of Porto Velho in the Brazilian Amazon have been struggling to breathe as thick smoke from forest fires shrouds their city.
“We are struggling to breathe,” said 30-year-old teacher Tayane Moraes, one of the approximately 460,000 people living in the city near the Bolivian border.
On Tuesday, the concentration of cancer-causing microparticles known as PM2.5 reached 56.5 micrograms per cubic meter in Porto Velho—11 times the World Health Organization’s recommended limit and the highest level among Brazil’s major cities. Inhaling PM2.5 can increase the risk of lung cancer, heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and other health issues.
On August 14, the PM2.5 level soared to a “dangerous” 246.4 micrograms per cubic meter, according to the IQAir monitoring company. Residents find it hard to escape the smoke even indoors.
“It’s terrible; yesterday I woke up at midnight, and my eyes were tingling because of the smoke entering my house,” said 62-year-old retiree Carlos Fernandes.
The Rondonia state government attributes the fires, often set by farmers clearing land, to illegal activities. They have launched an online campaign urging citizens to report such fires.