Code Orange air quality alert extended to Wednesday for southeastern PA due to Canadian wildfires
Jun. 6—Berks, Bucks, Chester, Lehigh, Montgomery, Northampton and Philadelphia counties have all had their Code Orange air quality alerts extended throughout Wednesday, June 7, the National Weather Service announced Tuesday. The Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission issued the alert for the Philadelphia area while the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection issued the alert for the Berks and Lehigh Valley area.
The air quality is being affected by wildfires in Quebec and Ontario Canada. The Associated Press has created a summary of what is happening.
People who are vulnerable to the effects of air pollution — the elderly, young children and those with breathing problems such as asthma, emphysema and bronchitis — can minimize the effects by avoiding strenuous activity or exercise outdoors.
"In more than 800 counties across the nation, air pollution levels are measured daily and ranked on a scale of 0 for perfect air all the way up to 500 for air pollution levels that pose an immediate danger to the public. The AQI further breaks air pollution levels into five categories, each of which has a name, an associated color, and advice to go along with it," according to the American Lung Association. "Don't assume that you're safe just because you're healthy. Air pollution can threaten anyone's health. Adults who are active outdoors, including outdoor workers and healthy exercisers, are all at higher risk."
Find up-to-date air quality levels at https://www.airnow.gov/ by entering a Zip code.
