Marylanders are being urged to take today’s air quality conditions seriously.
An Air Quality Alert is in effect across every Maryland jurisdiction through midnight tonight, Friday, July 17, as wildfire smoke and elevated fine-particle pollution affect the region.
Air quality is forecast to reach Code Purple—Very Unhealthy—in Western Maryland and Washington County, while the remainder of the state is under a Code Red—Unhealthy—alert. These categories indicate that the poor air is not only a concern for people with existing health conditions. The general public may also experience health effects. (Forecast Weather)
Timing
The alerts are in effect throughout Friday and are scheduled to remain active until midnight tonight.
Smoke concentrations and visibility may fluctuate during the day, and conditions can vary considerably between nearby communities. Residents should continue checking local AQI readings before exercising, working, attending events, or allowing children to spend extended periods outdoors.
Code Purple: Very Unhealthy Air
The following counties are under a Code Purple Air Quality Alert:
- Garrett County
- Allegany County
- Washington County, including Hagerstown
Code Purple represents very unhealthy air quality. The risk of health effects is increased for everyone—not only sensitive groups.
People with heart or lung disease, children, older adults, and other high-risk individuals should avoid physical activity outdoors. Everyone else should avoid prolonged or strenuous outdoor exertion and limit unnecessary time outside. (Forecast Weather)
Code Red: Unhealthy Air
A Code Red Air Quality Alert covers the remainder of Maryland:
Central and North-Central Maryland
Frederick, Carroll, Montgomery, Howard, Baltimore, Harford and Cecil counties, along with Baltimore City.
Baltimore–Annapolis Region
Baltimore City, Baltimore County and Anne Arundel County, including Annapolis.
Washington Suburbs
Montgomery, Howard and Prince George’s counties.
Southern Maryland
Charles, Calvert and St. Mary’s counties.
Upper and Mid-Eastern Shore
Kent, Queen Anne’s, Talbot and Caroline counties.
Lower Eastern Shore and Maryland Beaches
Dorchester, Wicomico, Somerset and Worcester counties, including Cambridge, Salisbury, Crisfield, Princess Anne, Snow Hill and Ocean City.
Code Red means the air is unhealthy for the general population. People in sensitive groups may experience more serious effects, while some otherwise healthy people may also develop symptoms. (National Weather Service)
This Is More Than Hazy-Looking Weather
The smoke contains elevated levels of microscopic particle pollution, commonly known as PM2.5. These particles are small enough to enter the respiratory system and can aggravate existing heart and lung conditions.
Wildfire-smoke exposure can cause coughing, wheezing, difficulty breathing, chest discomfort, headaches, fatigue, irritated eyes, a scratchy throat and worsening asthma symptoms. Anyone can become sick from wildfire smoke, although children, older adults, pregnant individuals and people with asthma, COPD, heart disease or other chronic conditions face a higher risk. (CDC)
What Marylanders Should Do Today
Residents should reduce their exposure as much as reasonably possible:
- Move exercise, sports, yardwork and other strenuous activities indoors.
- Keep children’s outdoor activities short or move them indoors.
- Keep windows and doors closed when smoke is present.
- Set vehicle and home air-conditioning systems to recirculate indoor air when possible.
- Use a portable HEPA air cleaner or an appropriate high-efficiency HVAC filter.
- Avoid adding more particles indoors by smoking, burning candles or using fireplaces.
- Keep prescribed inhalers and other necessary medication readily available.
- Check on older relatives, neighbors and anyone with heart or respiratory conditions.
A properly fitted, NIOSH-approved N95 respirator can reduce exposure to smoke particles when someone must be outdoors. Loose-fitting surgical or cloth masks do not provide the same level of particle filtration. (US EPA)
Watch for Symptoms
Go indoors and seek cleaner air if you begin experiencing coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath, chest tightness, dizziness, unusual fatigue or a rapid heartbeat.
Contact a healthcare provider when breathing problems, shortness of breath, or a persistent cough do not improve. Severe difficulty breathing, significant chest pain or symptoms of a heart attack or stroke require immediate emergency medical attention. (CDC)
The Bottom Line
This is not simply a day with hazy skies.
Unhealthy air covers most of Maryland, while very unhealthy conditions are forecast in Garrett, Allegany and Washington counties. Outdoor plans should be reconsidered, especially strenuous activities, youth sports, summer camps and extended work outside.
Take the alert seriously, monitor conditions where you live, and remain in cleaner indoor air whenever possible through midnight tonight.
Sources: Maryland Department of the Environment, National Weather Service, EPA AirNow and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.