The Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments has issued a code red air quality alert for the region for today, Wednesday, June 7, and tomorrow, Thursday, June 8, due to smoke from wildfires in Canada. This forecast means air quality is expected to be unhealthy for all individuals.

Everyone, particularly older adults, children, and individuals with heart or lung disease, should: 

•         Avoid strenuous outdoor activities. 
•          Keep outdoor activities short. 
•          Consider moving physical activities indoors or rescheduling them. 

Residents are encouraged to visit Airnow.gov for guidelines on how to limit exposure to pollutants during code-red air quality days.

From May through September, air quality is forecasted for the following day on a regionwide basis and is coded as purple, red, orange, yellow or green, with purple and red being the most unhealthy.  “Air Quality Action Day” notifications are published on the City of Alexandria’s Air Quality website, and a regional 2-day air quality forecast is published on the Metropolitan Washington Council of Government Air Quality website. Those interested in receiving a daily alert may subscribe to the Clean Air Partners EnviroFlash notification program. EnviroFlash notifications can be specified for only the unhealthier red and purple air quality days or for all air quality days. 

Additionally, each year, from May to September, the City’s Air Quality Action Days program works to increase awareness of the dangers of ground-level ozone (i.e., smog), fine particulate matter (PM2.5), and other air quality issues.

Ozone in the upper atmosphere protects the earth from the sun’s ultraviolet rays; however, it is considered a harmful air pollutant when present at ground level. Ground-level ozone is formed when pollution reacts with sunlight. PM2.5 are tiny drops of liquid or small particles of dust, metals and other materials that remain suspended in the air. Some particles are emitted directly, while others are formed in the atmosphere when pollutants react. The concentration of both pollutants will increase in the metropolitan Washington D.C., region during warmer months.

Prolonged exposure to ozone and PM2.5 can cause inflammation and irritation of the respiratory tract, as well as other health concerns. The most susceptible groups are children, seniors, and individuals with respiratory ailments; however, individuals of any age can be affected.    

Although the following actions are helpful every day, when a Code Orange or worse day is forecasted, residents can help improve the region’s, and Alexandria’s, air quality by:

• Replacing driving with walking, biking, or using mass transit
• Avoiding mowing lawns with gas-powered mowers
• Putting off any painting until later
• Refraining from using aerosol products
• Refueling cars after 7 p.m. and avoiding unnecessary idling
• Spreading the word about air quality    

For more information about air quality in Alexandria, and the Air Quality Action Days program, visit alexandriava.gov/AirQuality.

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This news release is available at alexandriava.gov/go/4674