Unhealthy Air Pollution Alert Issued for Rockingham County

CONCORD, NH — The New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services (NHDES) is expecting air pollution concentrations to reach unhealthy levels for sensitive individuals in Rockingham County on Thursday, Aug. 11, 2016, due to oppressive heat expected to move into the region tonight and tomorrow, according to a press statement. NHDES officials are calling for an Air Quality Action Day and advise sensitive individuals in this area to take precautions to protect their health by limiting prolonged outdoor exertion. Conditions are expected to improve on Friday as increased cloud cover and cleaner air move into the region.

"Sensitive individuals include children and older adults; anyone with lung disease such as asthma, emphysema, and bronchitis; and people who are active outdoors," according to James Martin, the public information officer for the NHDES. "Even healthy individuals may experience mild health effects and should consider limiting strenuous or prolonged outdoor activities."

Martin noted that the NHDES is forecasting "unhealthy concentrations of ground-level ozone (the main component of smog) for sensitive individuals in the region" due to "the persistence of high temperatures under sunny skies and light winds transporting pollution into New Hampshire from surrounding areas." Symptoms of ozone exposure include coughing, wheezing, chest tightness or pain when inhaling deeply, and shortness of breath. The severity of the health effects increases as ozone concentrations increase, he said.

For air quality forecasts and current air pollution levels in New Hampshire, call 1-800-935-SMOG or visit the NHDES website at airquality.nh.gov.