Air quality problems persist. Here's the latest in South Jersey

Kaitlyn McCormick, Cherry Hill Courier-Post
·1 min read
Air quality as of 7 a.m. Friday, June 30, 2023.
Air quality as of 7 a.m. Friday, June 30, 2023.

The Canadian wildfire smoke isn't leaving just yet and neither are the pollutants in the air.

The state Department of Environmental Protection has issued a Code Orange alert for particulate matter for Friday, June 30.

The DEP previously issued the same alert on Thursday before it developed throughout the day to a Code Red.

More: The smoke is back. Code Red alert as Canadian fires bring unhealthy air to South Jersey

What does hazardous air quality mean?

Here is how to read the categories for the AQI index, which can be found at airnow.gov:

  • Good/green: 0 to 50. Air quality is satisfactory and pollutants pose no risk

  • Moderate/yellow: 51 to 100. Air quality is acceptable. However, there may be a risk for some people, particularly those who are unusually sensitive to air pollution.

  • Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups/orange: 101 to 150  Members of sensitive groups may experience health effects. The general public is less likely to be affected.

  • Unhealthy/red: 151 to 200. Some members of the general public may experience health effects; members of sensitive groups may experience more serious health effects.

  • Very Unhealthy/purple: 201 to 300. Health alert: The risk of health effects is increased for everyone.

  • Hazardous/maroon: 301 and higher. Health warning of emergency conditions; everyone is more likely to be affected.

What is the air quality near me?

As of 8 a.m. June 30, the region's worst air-quality numbers were 156 in Chesterfield and 105 in the Pinelands communities of Bass River and Woodland.

Conditions elsewhere ranged from 87 in Cumberland County and Buena, Atlantic County to 90 and 91 in towns across the rest of South Jersey.

This article originally appeared on Cherry Hill Courier-Post: Canadian wildfires impacting the air quality in South Jersey