Code Orange Air Quality, Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups, Forecasted For DMV Today (Wednesday, June 28)

The Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments (COG) has forecast a Code Orange air day for the metropolitan Washington region today: Wednesday, June 28. Smoke coming from wildfires in Canada will contribute to the increased levels of fine particle pollution.

The Code Orange levels mean the air is unhealthy for sensitive groups, including older adults, children, and people with heart or lung disease. On unhealthy air days, COG advises the following health precautions:

• Children and older adults should reduce outdoor activities.
• Individuals with respiratory and heart ailments, emphysema, asthma, or chronic bronchitis should limit their activity level. If breathing becomes difficult, move indoors.
• Healthy individuals should limit strenuous work or exercise, especially outdoors.

Residents can check current air quality conditions on COG’s website or by downloading a free air quality app from Clean Air Partners. COG provides air quality forecasts and current air quality conditions for metropolitan Washington. It also educates the public about voluntary actions people can take to reduce pollution and the health risks of bad air quality through its Clean Air Partners program, which is co-sponsored by the Baltimore Metropolitan Council. Image below and featured image courtesy of the National Weather Service.