Code Orange Continues In Montco Wednesday: State Officials

HARRISBURG, PA — Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection Tuesday Code Orange Air Quality Action Day continues Wednesday for the Philadelphia region including Chester, Delaware and Montgomery counties.

Smoke due to wildfires in eastern Canada will likely contribute to daily average concentrations of fine particulate matter in the Code Orange range for the second day.

Orange represents unhealthy pollution levels for sensitive groups of people, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Air Quality Index.

The index provides standardized color codes for forecasting and reporting daily air quality. Green signifies good air quality; Yellow means moderate air quality; and Red warns of unhealthy pollution levels for all.

Air Quality Action Day

On an Air Quality Action Day, young children, the elderly, and those with respiratory problems,such as asthma, emphysema, and bronchitis, are especially vulnerable to the effects of air pollution and should limit outdoor activities.

An Air Quality Action Day is declared when the index is forecasted to be Code Orange or higher.

Residents and businesses within the Air Quality Action Day areas are strongly encouraged to voluntarily help reduce fine particulate matter air pollution by:

• Reducing or eliminating fireplace and wood stove use;
• Avoiding the open burning of leaves, trash, and other materials; and
• Avoiding the use of gas-powered lawn and garden equipment.