Air quality alert for Tuesday for Centre, Lycoming counties

HARRISBURG, PA – The state Department of Environmental Protection has issued a Code Orange air quality alert for much of north central Pennsylvania, including Centre and Lycoming counties, for Tuesday, the result of smoke from Canadian wildfires:

HARRISBURG, PA – The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has declared a Code Orange Air Quality Action Day for fine particulate matter for July 18, 2023, in the following areas of Pennsylvania:

• Philadelphia Area, which includes the counties of Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery, and Philadelphia;
• Lehigh Valley-Berks Area, which includes the counties of Berks, Lehigh, and Northampton;
• Susquehanna Valley Area, which includes the counties of Cumberland, Dauphin, Lancaster, Lebanon, and York;
• Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Area, which includes the counties of Lackawanna and Luzerne;
• State College Area, which includes Centre County;
• Williamsport Area, which includes Lycoming County.
• Bradford, Susquehanna, Sullivan, Wayne, Wyoming, Pike, Monroe, Carbon, Schuykill, Columbia, Montour, Northumberland, Tioga, Union, and Snyder counties.

Continued smoke from wildfires is expected to impact Pennsylvania air quality throughout the day Tuesday and will likely contribute to daily average concentrations of fine particulate matter in the Code Orange range. During the overnight and early morning, there could be a few hours of Code Red concentrations. Residents are encouraged to check www.airnow.gov for current conditions in their area.

Fine particulate matter (or PM-2.5) comes in many sizes and shapes and can be made up of hundreds of different chemicals. Some are emitted directly from a source, such as construction sites, unpaved roads, fields, smokestacks, or fires. Most particles form in the atmosphere as a result of complex reactions of chemicals such as sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides (called “precursors”), which are pollutants emitted from power plants, industries, and automobiles.

On a Code Orange 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.

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

• Avoiding the open burning of leaves, trash, and other materials; and
• Avoiding the use of gas-powered lawn and garden equipment.