Air quality alerts are in effect for part of our region.
The Allegheny County Health Department first issued an Air Pollution Warning for the Mon Valley, which will be in effect through Sunday.
County officials say the 24-hour fine particulate matter (PM2.5) standard for the Mon Valley has been exceeded at an official monitoring station in the Mon Valley and is likely to continue.
Soon after the county announced the air pollution warning, the Department of Environmental Protection declared a Code Orange Air Quality Action Day for the Liberty-Clairton area. Communities included in the alert are Clairton City, Glassport Borough, Liberty Borough, Lincoln Borough and Port Vue Borough.
Children, the eldery and those with respiratory problems are encouraged to limit outdoor activities. Everyone else is advised to reduce intense outdoor activities.
The Allegheny County Health Department says the PM2.5 levels could reach a Code Red.
Companies that “most significantly” contribute to the pollution in the Mon Valley region are required to temporarily reduce particulate emissions.
Everyone else is encouraged to reduce fine particulate matter by reducing or eliminating the use of fireplaces and wood stoves, as well as avoiding open burning or use of gas-powered equipment.
DEP says PM2.5 is made up of hundreds of different chemicals. Most form in the atmosphere as a result of complex reactions of chemicals such as sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides.
Click here for more information or to see the current monitored fine particulate matter amounts.
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