Air Quality Alert Issued For Philly Region Wednesday

PHILADELPHIA — The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection has declared Wednesday a Code Orange Fine Particles Action Day in the Philadelphia region and said the air quality will be unhealthy to sensitive groups of people.

According to officials, children, the elderly, and people with respiratory illnesses are especially vulnerable to the effects of air pollution and should limit outdoor activities on Wednesday. During Air Quality Action Days, the public should limit strenuous outdoor activities.

Wednesday's forecast calls for overcast skies, very light winds, areas of dense fog, and light rainfall. Temperatures will reach the middle and upper 40s.

Fine particle pollution concentration readings in the Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups category are likely for a good part of Wednesday.

The air quality will improve on Thursday as winds increase from the east and southeast. Rain is likely late in the day and at night. Daily averages of fine particle pollution concentrations will improve to the moderate range, the DEP said.

The public is encouraged to help reduce ozone pollution by:

• Driving less by carpooling or using public transportation;
• Combining errands to reduce vehicle trips;
• Limiting engine idling;
• Refueling cars and trucks after dusk; and
• Conserving electricity by setting air conditioning to a higher temperature and turning off lights that are not in use.