Air Quality Alert Issued For Bucks County

BUCKS COUNTY, PA — The Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission has issued a code orange air quality alert Friday for The Philadelphia Metro area, including Bucks County.

A code orange air quality alert means that air pollution concentrations within the region may become unhealthy for sensitive groups. Sensitive groups include children, people suffering from asthma, heart disease or other lung diseases, and the elderly.

The effects of air pollution can be minimized by avoiding strenuous activity or exercise outdoors.

To check levels and for more information, click here.

Here are some ways to take action:

• Take transit or rideshare.
• Ride the bus, train, subway or carpool to work or school.
• Do all of your errands in one trip, avoiding unnecessary cold starts.
• Don’t “top off” your tank when refueling. Spillage adds two tons of air pollution daily.
• Use wood stoves and fire places wisely and sparingly. Burn only untreated hard wood in a properly maintained woodstove or fireplace.
• Keep the right amount of air in the tires. Proper tire pressure saves gas and the air.
• Conserve energy at home. Set the thermostat lower in the winter and high in the summer. Conserving energy not only helps air quality, it also saves you money.
• Get regular tune-ups and car maintenance checks. A properly running vehicle emits less pollution and saves gas.
• Turn it off. Idling your vehicle wastes gas and pollutes the air.