DEP Issues Code Orange Air Quality Action Day Saturday, June 5 In Southwest PA Counties

On June 4, the Department of Environmental Protection issued a Code Orange Air Quality Action Day for ozone for Saturday, June 5 in the southwestern counties of Allegheny, Armstrong, Beaver, Butler, Fayette, Washington, and Westmoreland.

A combination of mostly sunny skies and high temperatures in the upper 80s, associated with a strong area of high pressure, will likely contribute to 8-hour average concentrations of ozone in the Code Orange range on Saturday.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Air Quality Index (AQI) provides standardized color codes for forecasting and reporting daily air quality. 

Green signifies good air quality; Yellow means moderate air quality; Orange represents unhealthy pollution levels for sensitive groups of people; and Red warns of unhealthy pollution levels for all.

An Air Quality Action Day is issued when the AQI is forecasted to be Code Orange or higher. 

On an Air Quality Action Day, young children, the elderly, and those with respiratory problems, such as asthma, emphysema, and bronchitis, are especially vulnerable to the effects of air pollution and should limit outdoor activities.

Residents and businesses within the Air Quality Action Day area are strongly encouraged to voluntarily help reduce air pollution by:

-- Conserving electricity by setting air conditioning to a higher temperature;

-- Combining errands to reduce vehicle trips;

-- Limiting engine idling; and

-- Refueling cars and trucks after dusk.

For more information, visit DEP’s Air Quality Partners webpage, EPA’s AirNow webpage, the Allegheny County Health Department, or the Southwestern Pennsylvania Air Quality Partnership website.

[Posted: June 4, 2021]  PA Environment Digest