Philadelphia's air quality improving as wildfire smoke moves through
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- Philadelphia's air quality is much better Saturday compared to Friday as wind has flushed out much of the hazardous wildfire smoke that swept through the region over the past few days. And all air quality alerts have ended.
As of Saturday morning, the Philadelphia region was in "code yellow" which is described as "acceptable," according to AirNow. However, there may be a risk to some people who have heightened sensitivities to air pollution. Portions of South Jersey at or near the Jersey Shore are categorized as "good" at the green level with an AQI of 36.
In Philadelphia, the air quality index was at 59 Saturday. This is an improvement from Friday when the air quality index averaged 77 at the yellow level. According to CBS News Philadelphia meteorologist Tammie Souza, the Philadelphia area is usually within the moderate, yellow level air quality range under normal conditions. In parts of South Jersey and Delaware, the air quality is also at the yellow level.
Air quality is improving
The Philadelphia region likely had its worst air quality period Wednesday into early Thursday morning, after smoke from the Canadian wildfires sunk over our region. At times on Wednesday, the Lehigh Valley and Philadelphia had the worst air quality index ratings in the world.
Thursday's Air Quality Index (AQI) for PM2.5 pollution started out in the 400s, which is well into the "hazardous" range, according to AirNow.gov, a site run by the federal Environmental Protection Agency. Anything above 300 is considered hazardous, or "Code Maroon" and a level six on a six-point scale.
Air quality index ratings in Philadelphia were dropping into the 200s by Thursday afternoon. But, as the night went on, the air quality index in the city continued to drop.
What are the health impacts of poor air quality from wildfire smoke?
Under hazardous air conditions like what was experienced Wednesday and Thursday, it was recommended to avoid any outdoor activity, keep doors and windows closed, and avoid using fans that suck outdoor air into your home. Running an air conditioning or an air purifier was also recommended. Anyone with heart or lung disease could face serious aggravation from high levels of smoky conditions.
Health experts recommended an N95 or KN95 mask to those who were heading outside in the smoke. Doctors say to avoid outdoor exercise in those conditions as you may feel negative effects days later.
The smoke and haze may also cause road visibility issues -- use caution when driving.
Where can I get a free mask?
The Philadelphia Health Department is offering residents free KN-95 masks if you believe you require one. The masks can be picked up at the following resource hubs:
- Bethany Baptist Church at 5747 Warrington Ave., 19143
Entrance on 58th St.
Monday - Friday 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. - Mi Salud Wellness Center at 200 E. Wyoming Ave., 19120
Entrance on A St.
Monday - Thursday 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. and Friday 8:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. - Mt. Enon Baptist Church at 500 Snyder Ave., 19148
Entrance on Cantrell St.
Monday - Friday 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. - Whitman Plaza at 330 W. Oregon Ave., 19148
Between GNC and Rainbow
Monday - Friday 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. - Shoppes at La Salle 5301 Chew Ave., 19138
Between Gamestop and Dunkin' Donuts
Monday-Friday 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.
In a news conference on wildfire smoke, NJ Transit riders can also receive a free mask from a customer service representative at the following train stations:
- Atlantic City
- Camden
- Trenton
- Secaucus
- Newark-Penn Station
- Hoboken
What does the "Code Red" air quality mean?
Wednesday afternoon began with a Code Red for unhealthy air, where the general public can start to notice health effects. At times, data from AirNow showed air quality index ratings higher than the Code Red range.
The health effects of poor air quality, especially at Code Red or higher, can include coughing, stinging eyes, a scratchy throat or runny nose.
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Under code red conditions people with heart or lung disease, older adults, children and teens should avoid strenuous activities, keep outdoor activities short and consider moving physical activities indoors.
Other groups should reduce their time of exposure outside.
RELATED READING: Health effects of wildfire smoke
When will smoke clear out? How much longer will the smoke last? When does air quality get better?
This is going to slowly improve, but smoke is going to be something we deal with at some level at least through Saturday, according to public health officials.
Conditions are expected to be much more improved by the weekend, especially by Sunday as winds shift from the southwest, which will blow the smoke back toward the origin.
We're likely to see a clear Sunday morning, Meteorologist Kate Bilo reports.
How are emergency officials responding?
The city of Philadelphia made changes Thursday to keep people safe in the hazardous haze.
There was no trash or recycling pick up Thursday, so those workers could stay inside. All outdoor parks and recreation programs were canceled or moved indoors. But the Streets Department did resume operations on Friday.
Crews will be working through Saturday night to pick up any delayed trash or recycling collections, the city said.
The Streets Department said sanitation routes won't be fully completed until Saturday.
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Other services like paving, traffic street lighting and street repairs will also resume.
The School District of Philadelphia switched to virtual learning Friday due to poor air quality.
Dr. Cheryl Bettigole, the Philadelphia Health Commissioner, said the air quality over the past few days fluctuated based on wind and weather patterns.
Dr. Bettigole also said the city has not seen an increase in emergency department visits. When she drove through a normally-busy North Philadelphia neighborhood Wednesday night, she said it was empty. She said she believed this means people have been paying attention to warnings and had been staying inside.
Officials at the Delaware County Emergency Services Center said that when the smoke first moved in Tuesday night, they got more than 100 calls in an hour.
The call volume has slowed as people understand what's happening outside, and now more people are calling about things like breathing issues.
Still, all these calls have had dispatchers walking a fine line.
"We don't want to tax the resources and send them out, but there are fires," Timothy Boyce, Delaware County's director of emergency services, said. "So, it is a delicate balance between telling someone don't worry and to worry."
They are still encouraging people to call 911 if they have an emergency or if they see a fire. Officials said they can always send a limited team to check things out.
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Meanwhile, in Radnor and Berwyn, fire crews have been dealing with a flurry of 911 calls this week for smoke and odor investigations. It has created a strain on some already busy fire departments.
Radnor firefighters have been on the move answering the many calls for help in air quality conditions that remain alarming.
"We have respiratory protection for ourselves with air masks and the general public doesn't. So they have to be careful when they go outside," Radnor Township Fire Chief Joe Maguire said.
Is the smoke affecting our food?
We know the smoke in the air can impact our health.
But is it impacting our food in the region?
"Definitely everything is safe to eat, we don't have any issues," Michelle Infante-Casella, of the Rutgers Cooperative Extension, said.
She says the smoke has not caused any impacts on crop production.
The New Jersey Department of Agriculture adds since the air quality showed signs of improvement Thursday, people shouldn't be concerned about their food.
"So something short-term like this really isn't going to affect any plants in the field," Infante-Casella said.
During this air quality alert and always, the New Jersey Department of Agriculture is reminding everyone to rinse their fruits and vegetables with water before cooking and eating them.
