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PUBLIC INFORMATION UPDATE San Joaquin County October 1, 1998, 8:44 AM Immediate Release: Contact: TRACY TIRE FIRE-GENERAL INFORMATION San Joaquin County-Dr.Karen Furst, San Joaquin County Health Officer,has issued the following health advisory update regarding the Tracy Tire fire: • Air quality monitoring for smoke constituents continues to be performed adjacent to the Tracy tire fire site. The monitoring indicates that overall particulate levels are normal for this time of year. • However,there are periods of time during each 24 hour period when the weather conditions allow the smoke to be closer to ground level. This occurs fairly consistently in the late evening and early morning hours. • Seasonal changes in the weather pattern for this region combined with continued smoldering of the tire fire may cause an increase in ground level smoke in the area of the tire fire. • Smoke is a health risk because it contains small particles of soot,ash and toxic aerosols which can bypass the body's natural filtering system and lodge in the lungs,causing or aggravating respiratory ailments. Because of these factors,there may be additional health concerns for people with chronic lung disease, heart disease,the elderly and young children. Healthy people may also experience some symptoms such as sore,scratchy throat or water eyes • When smoke is visible in the surrounding area,people in high risk groups and anyone experiencing symptoms are advised to stay indoors as much as possible and keep the doors and windows closed. • People who are experiencing respiratory symptoms should contact their physician or seek emergency medical attention.