The Pennsylvania Department of Health (DOH) is providing commonsense tips to help people stay healthy while current weather patterns push smoke from wildfires in eastern Canada into communities across the Commonwealth, increasing the average concentrations of fine particulate matter in the air.
The Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has declared a Code Red Air Quality Action Day for fine particulate matter for Wednesday June 7, 2023, for the entire state of Pennsylvania.
“Many of us really enjoy spending time outside, however, while the smoke from Canadian wildfires is affecting our air quality, we need to consider moving physical activities indoors or rescheduling them,” said Dr. Debra Bogen, Acting Secretary of Health. “For the next day or two, I encourage people to limit time outside, especially if you are sensitive to poor air quality.”
All Pennsylvanians are encouraged to:
Avoid strenuous outdoor activities.
Keep outdoor activities short.
Consider moving physical activities indoors or rescheduling them.
Tips to help keep particle pollution lower indoors:
Don’t use candles or smoke indoors.
Keep windows and doors closed.
If you have an air filter in your home, now is a good time to use it.
Clean or replace filters according to manufacturer recommendations.
If you don’t have one and want to make your own portable air cleaner designed to reduce particles indoors, the EPA offers DIY informationOpens In A New Window.
Source: pa.gov
Photo Credit: ontario-ministry-of-natural-resources
Categories: Pennsylvania, Sustainable Agriculture