SMOKE FROM SOUTH CAUSES HAZY SKIES

A distinct haze hangs in the air.

Is it typical of Southeast Missouri weather or is it smoke and soot from fires burning in Mexico and Central America?

A little of both, officials say, and again El Nino is to blame.

Fires are burning out of control in Mexico, Honduras and Guatemala causing a giant plume of smoke that is drifting across the United States. Particularly hard hit is Texas, but as the fires continue winds are sending the smoke to the north and east.

The Missouri Department of Health and the Department of Natural Resources have been monitoring the situation.

"Some of the haze is from smoke from the fires and some is just moisture in the air," said Nanci Gonder of the health department. "We definitely have some smoke over the state."

The concentration is low. "We have not needed to issue any advisories," Gonder said.

In Texas, however, health alerts have been in place for nearly a week. Individuals, especially children, the elderly and those with chronic health conditions like bronchitis and asthma, were advised to eliminate or reduce outdoor activities.

Dave Bary, a spokesman for the Environmental Protection Agency in Dallas, said visibility there was 1 1/2 miles last week. On Tuesday visibility had improved to 10 miles.

"But if the same weather conditions set up as we had last week, we could be right back where we were," said Bary.

In Central America farmers slash and burn agricultural lands in advance of spring planting. This year El Nino caused a drought in the region, so the slash-and-burn method resulted in hundreds of thousands of acres burning out of control.

Last week the state department deployed a team of U.S. Forest Service officials to Mexico to assess the situation. A report is expected this week about what resources the Mexican government needs to control the fires.

"The fires are still burning," Bary said. "And the magnitude is such that it may require a significant rainfall to control."

The smoke and soot is likely to continue as long as the fires are burning, Bary said. "There is some difference of opinion about how long this will continue," he said. "Some say days; others say weeks. It's difficult to tell."

The health concern comes from particles of carbons and sulfates in the smoke. The tiny particles are about 1/20th the width of a human hair, but once inhaled lodge in the lungs causing irritation.

The smallest of these particles are carried with the winds. The farther from the origin of the fire, the smaller the concentration of particles.

On Tuesday Texas EPA officials were awaiting the first reports of the levels of the smoke particles in that state.

Unless the haze increases and is prolonged, Bobby Phipps, cotton specialist with the University of Missouri Extension, doesn't expect any adverse repercussions on crops in Southeast Missouri.

In most cases, planting has just taken place. Plants aren't up yet or are very small.

"I personally don't think this will affect crops unless the blocking is prolonged," Phipps said.

If the haze occurred in mid-summer when plants were full-sized and in the peak of growing season, Phipps said he might be more concerned.