Air Quality Alert For Rockingham County Issued By New Hampshire Department Of Environmental Services

CONCORD, NH — State officials have declared Tuesday an air quality action day, due to pollution levels that could be unhealthy for some people in Rockingham County, including the Seacoast.

The New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services issued the alert on Monday, warning that breathing could be difficult for sensitive people, including children and the elderly, or anyone with breathing issues or sicknesses, on the third day of a four-day heat wave. Those illnesses include lung disease, asthma, emphysema, and bronchitis. Prolonged outdoor exertion should be limited, officials said.

“Even healthy individuals may experience mild health effects and should consider limiting strenuous or prolonged outdoor activities,” the alert stated.

The air pollution was due to wind transporting pollutant emissions into the state from other areas, while combining with local emissions, the alert stated. Sunny skies and high temperatures enhance the creation of ozone from the precursor pollutants.

“The potential for ozone formation is also being enhanced by the smoke from the ongoing wildfires in central and western Canada,” the alert stated. “Conditions are expected to improve late evening on Tuesday as temperatures cool.”

Signs to watch for in the health alert were chest pains, palpitations, shortness of breath, and difficulty breathing.

For more information, visit the NH DES Air Data site, linked here.

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