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NHDES Declares Smoke Advisory

Posted on: May 31, 2023 - 1:36pm

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
DATE: May 30, 2023
CONTACT:          Jim Martin, (603) 271-3710
                            David Healy, (603) 271-0871

des.nh.gov
 

NHDES Declares Smoke Advisory
Elevated Particle Air Pollution Advisory Issued for Tuesday Afternoon Through Friday

Concord, NH – The New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services (NHDES) is expecting elevated concentrations of fine particle air pollution from smoke to affect areas throughout the state Tuesday afternoon through Friday. The particle air pollution smoke event is the result of wildfires in central and southern Nova Scotia, Canada. While air quality overall is expected to remain acceptable and not exceed the federal health standard, NHDES officials advise individuals who are unusually sensitive to air pollution (including children, older adults, and anyone with heart or lung disease such as asthma, emphysema, and bronchitis), or anyone especially sensitive to smoke, to take precautions to protect their health by limiting prolonged outdoor exposure and exertion. In addition to the health effects, these smoke plumes also cause a hazy appearance in the sky and reduce visibility of distant objects. The smoke may even be noticeable by smell during hours of higher concentration. Concentrations of particles are expected to peak during the late afternoon on Tuesday through Wednesday morning.

Current wind patterns will likely transport plumes of smoke from these fires across much of the northeast, including New Hampshire. Air quality is expected to improve late Friday when winds are forecast to transport most of the smoke plumes out of the area. Forecasted rain on Friday will further help to clean the air by "washing out" some of the particle pollution.

Fine particle exposure symptoms increase as fine particle concentrations increase. Symptoms of particle pollution exposure may include chest pain, palpitations, coughing, shortness of breath, and difficulty breathing. In addition, people with asthma and other existing lung diseases may not be able to breathe as deeply or vigorously as normal.

For further information, contact NHDES at (603) 271-1370. For up-to-date air quality forecasts and current air pollution levels in New Hampshire, call 1-800-935-SMOG or visit the NHDES website at https://www4.des.state.nh.us/airdata/.