Lafayette's air quality remains poor; limit outdoor activity if you're sensitive

Deanna Watson, Lafayette Journal & Courier
·2 min read

LAFAYETTE, Ind. — The hazy shade of Canadian wildfires returned to the Lafayette area, bringing down the air quality and adding risks to outdoor activity.

For more than a month, smoke from Canadian wildfires have pushed down air quality in certain parts of the United States, particularly states in the Midwest.

The National Weather Service noted hazy smoke in the air Monday morning at the Indianapolis International Airport.

A haze covers Indianapolis, Wednesday, June 28, 2023 as seen from White River Pkwy across White River. Air quality in Central Indiana is being impacted by Canadian wildfires.
A haze covers Indianapolis, Wednesday, June 28, 2023 as seen from White River Pkwy across White River. Air quality in Central Indiana is being impacted by Canadian wildfires.

At noon Monday, the air-quality Index for Lafayette was 133, which is within the "poor quality" range. It was in the 150s on Sunday.

Fort Wayne had the worst index for the state on Monday at 157.

The haze prompted the National Weather Service to issue an air-quality alert until midnight Tuesday for Greater Lafayette and most of the Central Indiana region. According to the weather service, the Indiana Department of Environmental Management declared Monday an air action quality day, when "fine particulate levels are expected to be in the unhealthy for sensitive groups" range.

According to the Environmental Protection Agency, particulate matter is a "mixture of solid particles and liquid droplets found in the air. Some particles, such as dust, dirt, soot, or smoke, are large or dark enough to be seen with the naked eye. Others are so small they can only be detected using an electron microscope."

Those considered to be at risk include active children and adults and those with respiratory disease, such as asthma. Those individuals should avoid or limit prolonged outdoor exposure, the National Weather Service stated in the alert.

The National Weather Service also recommends these actions to prevent contributing to the poor air quaitiy:

∎ Walk, bike, carpool or use public transportation.

∎ Avoid using the drive-through and combine errands into one trip.

∎ Avoid refueling your vehicle or using gasoline-powered lawn equipment until after 7p.m.

∎ Turn off car engine when idling for more than 30 seconds.

∎ Conserve energy by turning off lights or setting the air conditioner to 75 degrees or above.

This article originally appeared on Lafayette Journal & Courier: Canadian wildfires continue to bring down air quality in Lafayette area