Lawrence Must Deal With More Poor Air Quality On Thursday Due To Canadian Wildfires

LAWRENCEVILLE, NJ - Environmental officials issued a "Code Red Air Quality Action Day" across New Jersey on Wednesday, as smoke from wildfires in Canada created unsafe air quality.

The air quality in Lawrence Township hit the "very unhealthy" level on the official U.S. Air Quality Index (AQI) Wednesday evening.

The situation is not expected to improve much on Thursday as well. The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection has issued a code orange air quality alert Thursday for the Township.

The Lawrence Township Health Department has also advised residents to avoid outdoor activities that cause exertion.

Thursday is expected to have lower levels of particulate matter in the air, but certain sensitive groups - children, teens, seniors, and those with heart or lung conditions - are advised to avoid strenuous activity outside. People with sensitivities to air pollution should take extra care, officials said.

On Wednesday, the school district moved all outdoor activities indoor.

AirNow.gov, which reports air quality using the official U.S. Air Quality Index (AQI), showed that Lawrence had a particulate matter level of 296 around 6 p.m. Wednesday, just short of 300, which is deemed “hazardous.”

With the pollutant level this high, weather officials say "everyone should stay indoors and reduce activity levels."

Air quality alerts are triggered by a number of factors, including the detection of fine-particle pollution — known as "PM 2.5" — which can irritate the lungs.

Exposure to air pollutants from the wildfire can cause headaches, irritated eyes and sinuses, fatigue, difficulty breathing, chest pains, asthma attacks, irritated throat and increased coughing, experts said.

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