The air is finally clearing for the Colville, Spokane and Yakima Nation Indian Reservations as the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) lifted burn bans on Dec. 4 and 7.

The bans were in effect since Nov. 27, said Steve Scott, senior environmental employee with the tribal air quality program for Region 10 of the EPA. Air stagnation and large amounts of small airborne particles caused the EPA to call for the bans.

Air stagnation causes a lack of motion in a mass of air, which tends to hold pollutants in place, causing poor air quality. Particulate matter is the small particles of solid and liquid matter found in the atmosphere that include soot, dust, organic matter, smoke or smog.

“More studies come out all the time on the effects of particulate pollution (PP). There are even possible links between PP and Alzheimer’s disease,” Scott said.

A number of scientific studies have linked particle pollution exposure to a variety of other health problems including aggravated asthma and decreased lung function.

These airborne particles can also affect the environment, causing environmental damage, visibility impairment and aesthetic damage. The environmental damage can cause acidity in lakes, depletion of soil nutrients and damage to sensitive forests.

According to a pamphlet from the Washington State Department of Ecology, wood stoves and fireplaces release 10 percent of the total air pollution in Washington. This leads to burn bans to lower the amount of particles in the air, especially in the winter, when air becomes more stagnant.

The burn ban for the tribes called for no open burning except for tribal or ceremonial fires. Penalties for burning during a ban start with warning letters, and serious offences can lead to fines around $100 to $5,000.

Reporting by Hannah Welzbacker