An air quality alert was issued by the National Weather Service in Mount Holly at 3:45 p.m. on Monday, July 28. This warning applies to Ocean and southeastern Burlington counties.
What are NWS meteorologists saying?
“The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection has issued a code orange air quality alert Tuesday for Ocean County and southeastern Burlington County New Jersey,” the National Weather Service said. “A code orange air quality alert means that air pollution concentrations within the region may become unhealthy for sensitive groups.
“Sensitive groups include children, people suffering from asthma, heart disease or other lung diseases, and the elderly. The effects of air pollution can be minimized by avoiding strenuous activity or exercise outdoors.”
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What is an air quality alert?
Air quality alerts are issued when elevated levels of pollutants in the air make it unsafe to be outside.
Particles from wildfire smoke can cause minor symptoms, such as mild eye or throat irritation, or more serious heart and lung issues in some cases, according to the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources.
Wildfire smoke particles are especially dangerous for children, older adults, pregnant people, and those with heart or respiratory conditions.
How can I protect myself from poor air quality?
The best way to protect yourself from poor air quality is to stay indoors, especially when the Air Quality Index reaches above 101, which is classified as unhealthy for sensitive groups, according to the Environmental Protection Agency.
Here are some additional steps you can take to protect yourself from poor air quality, including wildfire smoke, according to the Wisconsin DNR:
Keep windows and doors closed.
Use an indoor air purifier.
Run your air conditioner on recirculate with a high-efficiency air filter.
Avoid activities that can increase indoor pollution, like vacuuming, using candles, frying foods or using gas appliances.
Use a damp cloth to trap and clean up dust, instead of a dry cloth or duster, which will only make the dust airborne again.
If you must go outside, wear a N95 mask.
This weather report was generated automatically using information from the National Weather Service and a story written and reviewed by an editor.
See the latest weather alerts and forecasts here.
This article originally appeared on Cherry Hill Courier-Post: Air quality advisory warning issued for Burlington County