NHDES Declares Air Quality Action Day for Smoke

Concord, NH – The New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services (NHDES) is expecting concentrations of fine particle air pollution to reach unhealthy levels for sensitive individuals in Cheshire, Grafton, and Sullivan Counties and at elevations above 2000 feet on Saturday July 1 and for the morning hours on Sunday July 2. NHDES officials are calling for an Air Quality Action Day and advise sensitive individuals to take precautions to protect their health by limiting prolonged outdoor exertion. Sensitive individuals include children and older adults; anyone with lung disease such as asthma, emphysema, and bronchitis; and people who are active outdoors. Even healthy individuals may experience mild health effects and should consider limiting strenuous or prolonged outdoor activities.

The particle air pollution event is the result of extensive wildfires in eastern Canada. Wind patterns are forecasted to transport waves of smoke from these fires across much of New England and New Hampshire. In addition to the health effects, these smoke plumes also diffract light causing a hazy appearance in the sky and reduced visibility of distant objects. Air quality is expected to improve on Sunday afternoon when winds are forecasted to transport the smoke away from New Hampshire, and forecasted rain is expected to aid in washing out particle pollution.

The severity of the health effects increases as fine particle concentrations increase. Symptoms of particle pollution exposure may include chest pain, palpitations, shortness of breath, and difficulty breathing. People with asthma and other existing lung diseases may not be able to breathe as deeply or vigorously as normal and may experience symptoms such as coughing and shortness of breath.

For further information, call NHDES at (603) 271-1370. For air quality forecasts and current air pollution levels in New Hampshire, call 1-800-935-SMOG or visit the NHDES website at https://www4.des.state.nh.us/airdata/. 

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