Columbus to remain under an air quality alert Thursday as wildfire haze lingers

Those hazy skies the last two days are expected to continue Thursday, so an air quality alert for most of central Ohio will continue as well.

Smoke from wildfires around Canada continues to cause hazy skies in the Ohio Valley and Columbus area. Originally expected to dissipate Tuesday night into Wednesday, the Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission has now issued an air quality alert for particulate matter for Delaware, Fairfield, Franklin and Licking counties through Thursday.

On Twitter, the National Weather Service in Wilmington said earlier that a cold front Wednesday would bring a "fresh airmass," which would help clear out the hazy skies.

But MORPC's air quality alert indicated particle pollution levels would continue to be unhealthy for sensitive groups into Thursday.

Map: Current Air Quality Index Conditions

What does the air quality alert mean?

Particle pollution has reached the worst levels in 13 years, MORPC announced Tuesday. The last time particle pollution levels were this bad was in August 2010.

MORPC uses the national Air Quality Index scale, which runs from 0 to 500, to measure ozone and particle pollution. When levels reach above 100, air quality is considered unhealthy for sensitive groups. Thursday's AQI in the region is forecasted to be 129, according to MORPC.

The region is likely to experience particle pollution levels that are unhealthy for at-risk and sensitive groups in Franklin, Delaware, Fairfield and Licking counties, MORPC says. This means some people — like elderly people, children and people with asthma — should consider reducing outdoor activity and watch out for coughing or shortness of breath.

Air pollution also increases the risk of respiratory infections, heart disease and lung cancer, according to the World Health Organization.

Wildfire and smoke map

How to help reduce ozone formation

MORPC and the National Weather Service have both outlined tips for those looking to help combat high ozone levels:

• Take the bus, carpool, bike or walk instead of driving alone.

• Refuel your vehicle after 8 p.m., do not top off when refueling and tighten the gas cap.

• Do not idle your vehicle; Exhaust contributes to the formation of ozone pollution.

• Avoid the use of gas-powered lawn equipment

• Avoid burning wood, leaves and other materials

Reporting from USA Today was used in this story.

Jennifer Smola Shaffer contributed to this story.

tmoorman@dispatch.com

@taijuannichole

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Columbus' hazy skies lingering through Thursday