An air quality alert has been issued for parts of New England today, and one will be issued for tomorrow. These alerts are being issued because ground level ozone concentrations within parts of the region may approach or exceed unhealthy standards.
Because a number of people throughout the U.S. live in areas where air pollution can cause serious health problems and local air quality(which can change from day to day) can affect daily lives, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency developed the Air Quality Index (AQI) to make information available about the health effects of the five most common air pollutants (ground-level ozone, particle matter, carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, and nitrogen dioxide) and how to avoid those effects.
For more information about the current and forecast air quality in New England, please visit:
EPA: New England Air Quality Index
EPA: Massachusetts Air Quality
EPA: New Hampshire Air Quality
State Air Quality Forecasts:
CT Dept. of Environmental Protection: Air Quality Index
ME Bureau of Air Quality: Air Quality Forecast
MA Dept. of Environmental Protection: Air & Climate – Now & Forecast
NH Dept. of Environmental Services: Air Quality Forecast
RI: Dept. of Environmental Management: Air Quality Forecast
VT Dept. of Environmental Conservation: Real-time Air-Quality Data
The U.S. EPA, NOAA, and National Park Service, as well as a number of tribal, state, and local agencies have developed the AIRNow Web site to provide easy access to national air quality information. This information includes real-time air pollution data in an understandable, visual format; information about the public health and environmental effects of air pollution; information about ways in which the public can protect their health and actions they can take to reduce pollution. The site offers daily AQI forecasts as well as real-time AQI conditions for over 300 cities across the US, and it provides links to more detailed state and local air quality websites.
Background information:
EPA: Air Quality Index – A Guide to Air Quality and Your Health
EPA: Ground-level Ozone (Smog) Information
Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection: Air
Maine Department of Environmental Protection: Bureau Of Air Quality
Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection: Air & Climate
New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services: Air Resources Division
Rhode Island Department Of Environmental Management: Office of Air Resources
Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation: Air Pollution Control Division
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