‘Code Orange’ to stay in effect in Del.

Hot and hazy conditions have prompted Delaware to issue a ‘code orange’ due to potential air pollution concentrations.

DNREC confirmed Wednesday afternoon the code will stay in effect through Thursday.

High temperatures combined with light surface winds can push ozone levels into what DNREC calls a Code Orange. This means air pollution concentrations within the region may be unhealthy for sensitive groups including children, the elderly and folks with respiratory issues.

Ashley Wagner, a resident of Felton, says she doesn’t mind warm weather; however, she tells 47ABC muggy weather can be bothersome for her.

“Actually, I do have asthma so the weather does actually make it harder, especially when you’re out and you’re sweating,” Wagner says. “It makes it harder to breathe.”

David Fees, a managing engineer within the Division of Air Quality for DNREC, explains ozone is not a pollutant emitted by cars or factories, for example. He says it’s a gas, which in the stratosphere, protects life on Earth from the sun’s ultraviolet rays.

Fees explains at ground level, it can be a major air pollutant. When it reaches lungs and mucus membranes, it starts to react with the moisture.

“When ozone is taken in, it can cause irritation and that irritation can cause inflammation and that’s really what’s happening with someone who has asthma or some other respiratory problem,” he says.

Ming Lau, chief toxicologist at Environmental Health Toxicology with Delaware Public Health, says affected people might need to take a break. 

Lau also suggests doing a less intense activity or use quick-relief medicine as prescribed.

“If the unusual coughing, chest discomfort, wheezing, breathing difficulty, or unusual fatigue does not improve, see medical help or go to local Emergency Room,” Lau says in a statement.

Another recommendation both Lau and Fees recommend is to stay indoors all together; however, that would vary case by case.

There are five levels of air quality determined by the EPA. The agency assigns a specific color to each Air Quality Index category: green, yellow, orange, red and purple.

‘Green’ indicates air quality is considered satisfactory with air pollution posing little or no risk, while ‘purple’ means air quality has been deemed “very unhealthy”. Unlike a ‘Code Orange’, the entire population is more likely to be affected.

Fees says DNREC, in particular, works with an air quality forecaster in Pennsylvania who uses very sophisticated models.

“In addition, they use the data that is obtained from our monitors that is used throughout the state that measure ozone so they can see how ozone and other pollutants are rising in the area,” he says.

DNREC says residents in the state can sign up for ozone alerts through the agency to keep up to date with any codes in the future.