NEPA air pollution from Canadian wildfires eases up, but still unhealthy

Jun. 8—Air pollution in Northeast Pennsylvania from Canadian wildfires decreased overnight but still remains at unhealthy levels, according to AirNow.gov.

The smell of smoke in the air subsided and patches of blue sky at times peeked through the haze.

Air quality throughout much of Northeast Pennsylvania became "hazardous" Wednesday for particulate matter because of the wildfires, prompting AirNow to advise everyone to stay indoors. Particulate matter is a mixture of solid particles and liquid droplets found in the air.

AirNow is a partnership of EPA, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), National Park Service, NASA, Centers for Disease Control, and tribal, state and local air quality agencies.

AirNow's "Air Quality Index" rating ranges from zero to 500, with anything under 100 considered satisfactory and anything over 300 considered hazardous.

The AQI for Scranton peaked Wednesday at 6 p.m. at 389, hazardous, and then steadily decreased to 199, or unhealthy, by 10 a.m. Thursday, then 190, by 11 a.m.

emailto:Contact the writer: jlockwood@timesshamrock.com; 570-348-9100 x5185; @jlockwoodTT on Twitter.

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