Air Quality Action Day Alert Issued For NH’s Seacoast Communities: Here’s What To Know

CONCORD, NH — The New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services issued another air quality alert for New Hampshire on Wednesday afternoon, warning of unhealthy levels of air pollution for sensitive groups on the state’s Seacoast on Thursday.

On Wednesday, an alert was issued for Rockingham County and areas of the state above 3,000 feet as air pollution from the wildfires in Canada and Massachusetts moved into New Hampshire.

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Smoke from the wildfires in central and western Canada continues to damage the state’s air quality. However, the concern will be limited to the coastal communities on Thursday.

“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,” Jim Martin, a public information officer for the department, 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.”

Symptoms of air pollution exposure may include chest pain, palpitations, shortness of breath, and difficulty breathing, the alert stated. People with asthma and other existing lung diseases may not be able to breathe as deeply or vigorously as normal as well as children and the elderly. They may experience symptoms such as coughing and shortness of breath, Martin said.

As temperatures cool on Thursday, conditions should improve, he added.

For more information, call 603-271-1370 or visit the department’s air data website for forecasts and air pollution levels in New Hampshire.

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