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Mar 30, 2023

Tuesday declared Code Orange Air Quality Action Day

The DEP said the Eastern Canada Wildfires are likely contributing to the air

The DEP said the Eastern Canada Wildfires are likely contributing to the air pollution.

The DEP said the Eastern Canada Wildfires are likely contributing to the air pollution.

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The DEP said the Eastern Canada Wildfires are likely contributing to the air pollution.

The Department of Environmental Protection has declared Tuesday a Code Orange Air Quality Action Day for seven counties in the Pittsburgh-area.

Allegheny, Armstrong, Beaver, Butler, Fayette, Washington, and Westmoreland counties are impacted.

The DEP utilizes the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Air Quality Index color codes, which rate air pollution, to determine the labeling of each county. Green is good air quality, yellow is moderate air quality, orange is unhealthy air quality for certain groups, and red is unhealthy air quality for all.

When the color code range is orange, the DEP said that means young children, older people, and those with respiratory problems like asthma, emphysema, and bronchitis are especially vulnerable to the impacts of air pollution and should limit outdoor activities.

Air pollution consists of particulate matter, or particle pollution, which is small dust or metals particles, or other material floating in the air. Particle pollution can be caused by a number of factors, one of which is wildfires.

The DEP said the Eastern Canadian wildfires are likely contributing to the fine particulate matter Tuesday.

Pittsburgh's Action News 4 Meteorologist Ashley Dougherty said because smoke is coming from Quebec, traveling far to get to the Pittsburgh region. If the smoke has a short distance to travel, it will likely sink into our air and have a lower altitude.

The DEP encourages anyone within the Air Quality Action Day areas to voluntarily help reduce fine particulate matter air pollution by:

•Reducing or eliminating fireplace and wood stove use;

•Avoiding the open burning of leaves, trash, and other materials; and

•Avoiding the use of gas-powered lawn and garden equipment.

AirNow said to lower the risk, try going out when the pollution levels are lower, this is usually in the morning or evening. Always pay attention to how you feel: if you're tired, having trouble breathing or your chest feels strange, you should go inside.