New England state air quality forecasters are predicting elevated concentrations of fine particle air pollution due to wildfires in Quebec and Northern Ontario. The primary concern is high concentrations of fine particle air pollution that is unhealthy, especially for sensitive groups such as people with respiratory disease, the elderly, or people with compromised health.
Areas that are forecast to exceed the Federal air quality standard for 24-hour particle pollution level concentrations are: Connecticut (Northwest corner), Maine (Southwest Coast, Western Interior, Western Mountain, and Northern areas), Massachusetts (Berkshire, Franklin, Hampden, Hampshire, and Worcester counties), New Hampshire, and Vermont.
East Hartford’s Air Quality Index Monday evening was 119; Cornwall’s AQI was higher at 157.
You may check East Hartford’s Air Quality Index (AQI) which is monitored outside the Anna Norris Elementary School driveway at Remington Road by going to the following website: https://www.airnow.gov/
According to the New England monitors the hazy skies are drifting down through Western Massachusetts reducing visibility. Residents may notice the odor of burning wood. During times significant smoke is over the town, combined with heat and humidity all those with breathing difficulties should stay inside, with windows closed. Use a fan or air conditioner.
For everyone, fine particle smoke affects both lungs and heart, which may cause breathing problems and aggravate asthma and other lung diseases. Curtail strenuous outdoor activity. This applies especially to children and adults with respiratory problems.
And you can take some steps to keep local air emissions down. Combining or skipping car trips, use public transportation and mow your lawn after 5 p.m. all can have a positive impact on air quality.
The Connecticut River Valley which is prone to air inversions and humidity during the summer months is particularly sensitive to ozone and smoke pollution.
On the AirNow app you can also check the AirNow Fire and Smoke Map to see fire locations, smoke plumes and near-real-time air quality. The map is available at https://fire.airnow.gov, or by tapping the Smoke icon in the AirNow app.
The Bureau of Air Management also uses an ozone forecast to determine whether certain operating restrictions apply to industrial operations. These restrictions limit unnecessary emissions of nitrogen oxides (NOx) on high ozone days. Owners of most emergency engines (usually diesel powered generators) use the ozone forecast to determine whether they can operate for routine, scheduled testing or maintenance. Whenever the AQI level is forecast as moderate to unhealthy for sensitive groups or greater anywhere in Connecticut, heavy industrial engine use is restricted. A limited number of sources operate under an exemption in RCSA section 22a-174-22e(c)(7) that imposes restrictions on operation on days forecast to have ozone AQI levels classified as moderate to unhealthy for sensitive groups or greater.
The current ozone forecast for the regulated community is provided through a pre-recorded telephone message (860-424-4167), via email provided to the affected sources upon request and on CTDEEP’s primary AQI webpage. The web page provides the forecast as a traffic light indicator, with red meaning restrictions are in place for the forecasted day and green meaning that restrictions are not in place for the forecasted day.
