June 19 Air Quality Alert: Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups

On Wednesday, June 19, the Air Quality Index in Cambridge is forecast to be at a level deemed “Unhealthy For Sensitive Groups” due to high ozone pollution. At this level, EPA makes the following recommendations:

People with heart or lung disease, older adults, children, and teens are encouraged to:

• Choose less strenuous activities.
• Shorten the amount of time you are active outdoors.

Background

Local air pollution can affect our daily lives. Like the weather, it can change from day to day. Poor air quality can negatively affect health, especially for people with certain medical conditions, including asthma and heart disease. As a result, people are encouraged to take precautions and limit some outdoor activities as pollution in the air increases.

The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPS) developed the Air Quality Index, or AQI, to make information available about local air quality. Residents can check current air quality and available forecasts by visiting the EPA’s site www.AirNow.gov and entering their zip code.

The EPA’s AQI rates the air quality using six levels, ranging from Good to Hazardous. More information about this rating scale and recommendations for activity at each level can be found on the AirNow’s Air Quality Index (AQI) Basics page.