Department Of Environmental Services Declares Air Quality Action Day In This NH County

CONCORD, NH — State officials warn people in Rockingham County and anyone at elevations of more than 3,000 feet in New Hampshire who may have breathing issues or lung illnesses, including children and the elderly, to take precautions on Wednesday as pollution reaches unhealthy levels.

The New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services issued an alert Tuesday afternoon boosting the air quality level to orange, its mid-level unhealthy warning. The elevated warning is due to air pollution from “urban areas” to the southwest of the state (meaning cities in Massachusetts) and wildfire smoke being transported from Canada, according to Jim Martin, a public information officer for the department.

“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,” he said. “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 warning covers all of Rockingham County. According to NetState.com, areas of 2,000 feet or more include north and west of the Lakes Region to the Vermont border, Canadian, and Northern Maine borders, and west of Concord to the Vermont border.

Martin said the wildfires in Canada were mainly to blame for the conditions. Wind moves pollutant emissions into the Granite State from the surrounding areas, combining them with local emissions. As temperatures cool on Wednesday night, conditions should improve.

“The particle air pollution event is the result of extensive wildfires in central and western Canada,” he said. “Wind patterns are forecasted to transport plumes 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.”

The smoke may be noticeable by smell during hours of higher concentration, with air quality expected to improve later in the week when winds are forecasted to shift and transport the smoke away from the state, he said.

Those with health issues may also experience chest pains, palpitations, shortness of breath, and difficulty breathing. If you have asthma or a lung disease, you should not breathe as deeply or vigorously as normal.

For more information, call NH DES at 603-271-1370 or visit the department’s Air Data website, linked here.

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