Code Orange Alert: What To Know About Air Quality In GA Friday

ATLANTA, GA — The air quality Friday could be unhealthy for metro Atlanta residents included in sensitive groups as smoke from hundreds of Canadian wildfires continues to blanket parts of the U.S.

A code orange is in effect for large parts of Georgia, including the Atlanta metro area on Friday. Orange denotes an air quality index of between 101-150 while an index of above 150 is considered code red, with health effects spreading to members of the general public.

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.

People considered to be in sensitive groups are those 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, according to the national government-operated monitoring platform AirNow.

AirNow cautions people to use these tips to limit their exposure:

• Choose less strenuous activities (like walking instead of running) so you don’t breathe as hard.
• Shorten the amount of time you are active outdoors.
• Be active outdoors when air quality is better.

SEE ALSO: When Will The Smoke Clear From Canadian Wildfires?

The Georgia Department of Natural Resources said people in sensitive groups should limit their outdoor activities during the late afternoon or early evening hours, when ozone concentrations are the highest, according to an air quality alert from the National Weather Service Peachtree City office.

Air quality conditions are moderate Thursday in the metro area, according to AirNow and the state operated Ambient Air Monitoring Program.

Areas as far as North Carolina in the south to Ohio in the midwest are experiencing the effects from the hundreds of wildfires burning.

The air in parts of the northeast reached hazardous levels Wednesday and Thursday, prompting authorities to warn residents to stay indoors.