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NJ Air Quality Alert: Heat Isn't the Only Danger
2 Jul
Summary
- New Jersey faces low air quality with ozone spikes from July 2-5.
- Vulnerable groups advised to limit strenuous outdoor activity.
- Pollutants from power plants and vehicles contribute to ozone formation.
New Jersey is issuing an air quality alert for the upcoming holiday weekend, warning residents about elevated ozone levels. From Thursday, July 2, through Sunday, July 5, the state anticipates low air quality, particularly impacting the I-95 corridor and central and southern New Jersey.
Health advisories recommend that sensitive individuals, including the very young, elderly, and those with asthma or other respiratory diseases, limit strenuous outdoor activity, especially during the afternoon and early evening. This is due to the potential for ground-level ozone to cause adverse health effects, comparable to sunburn on the lungs.
The high ozone levels are a result of chemical reactions between pollutants like oxides of nitrogen and volatile organic compounds in the presence of sunlight. Sources contributing to these pollutants include vehicle emissions, power plants, and industrial facilities, with prevailing winds often carrying them into New Jersey.
