New Hampshire Declares Code Orange Air Alert As Canada Wildfire Smoke Reaches State

CONCORD, NH — New Hampshire environmental officials are warning that air pollution is expected to reach unhealthy levels for sensitive groups across the state on Thursday.

The New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services said it expects concentrations of fine-particle air pollution to reach Code Orange/USG levels statewide.

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“A Code Orange Air Quality Alert means that air pollution concentrations may become unhealthy for sensitive groups (USG),” according to the announcement from NH DES.

The agency said sensitive individuals should take precautions to protect their health by limiting prolonged outdoor exertion.

According to NH DES, sensitive individuals include children and older adults; people with lung diseases such as asthma, emphysema, and bronchitis; and people who are active outdoors. The agency also said even healthy individuals may experience mild health effects and should consider limiting strenuous or prolonged outdoor activities.

The fine-particle air pollution event is linked to extensive wildfires in central and western Canada, according to NHDES. The agency said wind patterns are transporting smoke plumes from those fires across much of the Northeast, including New Hampshire.

In addition to potential health effects, the smoke plumes can create a hazy appearance in the sky, according to the announcement. NHDES said the smoke may also be noticeable by smell during hours of higher concentration.

“The severity of health effects increases as fine particle concentrations increase,” according to NHDES.

The agency said symptoms of fine particle exposure may include chest pain, palpitations, shortness of breath, and difficulty breathing. People with asthma and other existing lung diseases may not be able to breathe as deeply or vigorously as normal and may experience symptoms such as coughing and shortness of breath, according to the agency.

Conditions are expected to improve on Friday afternoon, according to NHDES, though the agency said the smoke plumes could persist. For more information, NHDES said residents can call 603-271-1370. Air quality forecasts and current air pollution levels are also available by calling 1-800-935-SMOG or by visiting the agency’s air data website.