NJDEP Issues Air Quality Alert For Middlesex County Tuesday

MIDDLESEX COUNTY, NJ — The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection has issued an air quality alert Tuesday for multiple New Jersey counties including Middlesex. According to officials, predicted levels of ozone might make it difficult for some people to breathe normally outdoors.

The NJDEP issued a "code orange" Air Quality Action Day for ground-level ozone for Middlesex and the alert continues into Tuesday night.

Weather conditions and a mass of polluted air could combine to make ozone levels rise into the Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups category throughout the day, officials said.

The air quality index (AQI) is forecast to reach above 100 on Tuesday in some Middlesex County towns, according to airnow.gov. These towns include South Brunswick, East Brunswick, Edison and Metuchen.

"Sensitive individuals, including the very young, the elderly, and persons with respiratory diseases such as asthma, should avoid strenuous activities during the afternoon and early evening hours," DEP officials said.

People with lung disease such as asthma, children and teens, older adults, and people who are routinely active outdoors for six or more hours a day should reduce their exposure by choosing less strenuous activities or shortening the amount of time they are active outdoors.

According to the National Weather Service, humidity levels will be "on the rise" throughout the day Tuesday, with high temperatures in the upper 70s to mid-80s across most of the state.

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