Health & Fitness

How To Check Your Air Quality In Bridgewater

Smoke from wildfires in eastern Canada is lingering above several states on the East Coast this week.

While the sky is more blue on Thursday, a haze remains in the air in Bridgewater.
While the sky is more blue on Thursday, a haze remains in the air in Bridgewater. (Alexis Tarrazi/Patch)

BRIDGEWATER, NJ — The air is listed as unhealthy in Bridgewater on Thursday, and officials warn children, the elderly, and those with respiratory conditions to stay indoors.

Smoke from wildfires in eastern Canada is lingering above several states on the East Coast this week.

And, the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection issued a Code Red Air Quality Action Day for fine particulates, until midnight Thursday night.

Find out what's happening in Bridgewaterfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

With the amount of smoke and air pollution in the atmosphere on Thursday, it will be difficult for some sensitive groups (children, the elderly, people with breathing conditions) to do normal activities outside. And, even those adults without lung conditions may feel irritation in their eyes, nose, and throat.

AirNow.gov, which reports air quality using the official U.S. Air Quality Index (AQI), shows Bridgewater is "Very Unhealthy" at 244 out of 400 as of 9 a.m.

Find out what's happening in Bridgewaterfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

Screenshot of Bridgewater's AQI, according to AirNow.gov.

The AQI measures as follows:

  • Good/green: 0-50
  • Moderate/yellow: 51-100
  • Unhealthy for sensitive groups/orange: 101-150
  • Unhealthy/red: 151-200
  • Very unhealthy/purple: 201-300
  • Hazardous/dark purple: 301-500

On Wednesday, Bridgewater Township canceled all outdoor recreation programs due to poor air quality.

The Bridgewater-Raritan Regional School Superintendent Robert Beers also announced the district is monitoring the air quality levels. Read More: Air Quality To Be Monitored By Bridgewater Schools Due To Wildfires

Here's a look at the air quality in each New Jersey county at noon Wednesday according to AirNow.gov.

  • Atlantic: 176
  • Bergen: 158
  • Burlington: 169
  • Camden: 169
  • Cape May: 176
  • Cumberland: 174
  • Essex: 175
  • Gloucester: 167
  • Hudson: 175
  • Hunterdon: 169
  • Mercer: 166
  • Middlesex: 166
  • Monmouth: 164
  • Morris: 169
  • Ocean: 164
  • Passaic: 175
  • Salem: 169
  • Somerset: 169
  • Sussex: 169
  • Union: 175
  • Warren: 169

Related articles:

When Will Smoke Clear In NJ? What To Expect

Code Red Issued: How To Stay Safe In NJ’s Wildfire Haze

AirNow partners with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), National Park Service, NASA, Centers for Disease Control, and tribal, state, and local air quality agencies.

Have a news tip? Email alexis.tarrazi@patch.com.

Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.