THE VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY HAS ISSUED ACODE PURPLE AIR QUALITY ALERT FRIDAY FOR NORTHWESTERN AND CENTRAL VIRGINIA.

CONCENTRATIONS OF FINE PARTICULATE MATTER DUE TO WILDFIRE SMOKE WILL PERSIST AT LEVELS CONSISTENT WITH AN AIR QUALITY INDEX OF UNHEALTHY (RED ALERT) TO VERY UNHEALTHY (PURPLE ALERT) FRIDAY NIGHT INTO SATURDAY MORNING. AIR QUALITY BEGINS TO IMPROVE SATURDAY AFTERNOON.

A CODE PURPLE AIR QUALITY ALERT MEANS THAT AIR POLLUTION CONCENTRATIONS WITHIN THE REGION ARE VERY UNHEALTHY FOR THE GENERAL POPULATION. THE RISK OF HEALTH EFFECTS IS INCREASED FOR EVERYONE. THE EFFECTS OF AIR POLLUTION CAN BE MINIMIZED BY AVOIDING STRENUOUS ACTIVITY OR EXERCISE OUTDOORS.

FOR MORE INFORMATION ON GROUND-LEVEL OZONE AND FINE PARTICLES VISIT THE WEB SITE VIRGINIA DEQ AIR QUALITY WEB SITE AT WWW.DEQ.VIRGINIA.GOV