DEP Issues Air Quality Alert for Tuesday

The Department of Environmental Protection has issued an air quality alert Tuesday for the Philadelphia region.

The DEP has issued an “orange” air quality day for pollution in Bucks, Chester, Cumberland, Dauphin, Delaware, Lancaster, Lebanon, Montgomery, Philadelphia and York counties.

Particle pollution, a key component of smog, will become elevated Tuesday as the region becomes increasingly cloudy and moisture levels rise near the surface, according to the DEP.

Young children, the elderly and those with respiratory problems may be vulnerable to the effects of air pollution and should limit outdoor activities when an orange alert is issued.

“The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s standardized air quality index uses colors to report daily air quality. Green signifies good; yellow means moderate; orange represents unhealthy pollution levels for sensitive people; and red warns of unhealthy pollution levels for all,” the DEP said.

To help keep the air healthy, residents and businesses are encouraged to limit certain pollution-producing activities by limiting the use of wood stoves, carpooling or using public transportation and combining errands to reduce trips.