The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) on Wednesday issued a Code Orange Air Quality Action Day for particulate matter (PM 2.5) for Thursday, Nov. 5 for the Liberty-Clairton area of Allegheny County.
The Air Quality Action Day is based on DEP’s Thursday forecast: A strong temperature inversion expected in the morning coupled with calm winds will produce poor air quality in the code ORANGE range with respect to fine particulate matter (PM2.5) Thursday morning. Orange represents unhealthy pollution levels for sensitive groups of people (whereas red warns of unhealthy pollution levels for all).
Why is PM2.5 worrisome? Fine particulate matter penetrates deeper into the lungs and causes heart attacks, strokes, asthma, and bronchitis, as well as premature death from heart ailments, lung disease, and cancer.
DEP indicated that further action days are possible this week and that warnings will be issued as warranted.
An Air Quality Action Day is issued when the AQI is forecasted to be code orange or higher. On air quality action days, young children, the elderly, and those with respiratory problems, such as asthma, emphysema, and bronchitis, are especially vulnerable to the effects of air pollution and should limit outdoor activities.
To help keep the air healthy, residents and business are encouraged to voluntarily restrict certain pollution-producing activities by:
• Reduce or eliminate fireplace and wood stove use. • Avoid using gas-powered lawn and garden equipment. • Avoid burning leaves, trash and other materials.
This forecast is brought to you by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (PA DEP) and the Southwest PA Air Quality Partnership, Inc.
Editor’s Note: For more information, visit DEP at www.dep.pa.gov, EPA’s AirNow at www.airnow.gov