The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection has declared a Code Orange Air Quality Action Day for fine particulate matter for Tuesday throughout Lehigh, Northampton, Monroe, Carbon and Schuykill counties.

Continued smoke from wildfires is expected to impact Pennsylvania air quality throughout the day Tuesday and will likely contribute to daily average concentrations of fine particulate matter in the Code Orange range. During the overnight and early morning, there could be a few hours of Code Red concentrations. Residents are encouraged to check www.airnow.gov for current conditions in their area. Residents are encouraged to check www.airnow.gov for current conditions in their area.

Fine particulate matter (or PM-2.5) comes in many sizes and shapes and can be made up of hundreds of different chemicals. Some are emitted directly from a source, such as construction sites, unpaved roads, fields, smokestacks, or fires. Most particles form in the atmosphere as a result of complex reactions of chemicals such as sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides (called “precursors”), which are pollutants emitted from power plants, industries, and automobiles.

On a Code Orange Air Quality Action Day, young children, the elderly, and those with respiratory problems, such as asthma, emphysema, and bronchitis, are especially vulnerable to the effects of air pollution and should limit outdoor activities.

For more information, visit DEP at www.ahs.dep.pa.gov/AQPartnersWeb, EPA’s AirNow at www.airnow.gov, Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission’s Air Quality Partnership at www.airqualitypartnership.org, or the Air Quality Partnership of Lehigh Valley-Berks at www.airqualityaction.org.