...AIR QUALITY ALERT IN EFFECT THROUGH MONDAY, JULY 14TH... The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) has declared an Air Quality Alert for the rest of today, July 13th and Monday, July 14th, for elevated levels of fine particulate (PM2.5) in parts of southwest Michigan. Pollutants within those areas are expected to be in the Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups (USG, Orange AQI) range. The Air Quality Alert is in effect for the following counties in southwest Michigan... Berrien, Cass, St Joseph, Branch, and Hillsdale The Michigan Department of Enviornment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) has issued an Air Quality Alert for elevated levels of fine particulate (PM2.5) on Sunday and Monday. Pollutants across the state are expected to reach the Unhealthy (Red AQI) to USG (Orange AQI). It is recommended that, when possible, you avoid strenuous outdoor activities, especially those with heart disease and respiratory diseases like asthma. Monitor for symptoms such as wheezing, coughing, chest tightness, dizziness, or burning in nose, throat, and eyes. Reduce or eliminate activities that contribute to air pollution, such as: * outdoor burning, * use of residential wood burning devices. Tips for households: Keep windows closed overnight to prevent smoke from getting indoors and, if possible, run central air conditioning with MERV-13 or higher rated filters. For up-to-date air quality data for Michigan visit the MiAir site: https://air-egle.hub.arcgis.com/ For up-to-date air quality data nationally visit EPA's Air Now site: https://www.airnow.gov/ For further health information, please see MDHHS's Wildfire Smoke and You Health site: https://www.michigan.gov/mdhhs/safety-injury-prev/environmental- health/your-health-and-wildfire-smoke
