Air Quality Action Day in New Jersey Thursday as smoke from Canadian wildfires return

Thursday's air quality warning was upgraded to the unhealthy category for western counties in New Jersey.

Lanette Espy

Jun 29, 2023, 11:16 AM

Updated 541 days ago

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An Air Quality Action Day has been declared for New Jersey Thursday by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection due to the state seeing elevated pollution levels from smoke due to the Canadian wildfires.
Thursday's air quality warning was upgraded to the unhealthy category for western counties in New Jersey. Levels of fine particulates have gradually increased from west to east across the Garden State beginning in the overnight hours, according to NJDEP.
NJDEP says concentrations upwind continue to increase and for this reason, it is expected that western New Jersey counties will experience PM2.5 levels in the unhealthy range.
Although the air quality is nothing like a few weeks ago, the air will affect the very young, the elderly, and those with heart and respiratory issues. This group of sensitive individuals are advised to limit strenuous activities, reduce the amount of time spent outdoors, and stay safe. RELATED: Expect a hot, smoky summer in much of America. Here's why you'd better get used to it

How New Jersey residents feel about the air quality

The summer of haze is affecting people in a variety of ways. Some Middlesex County residents spent time outside Thursday to enjoy summer while others are not only watching the haze roll in but are also watching their health.