Page 26 - Sensitive Groups News Today

* IMPACTS...Sensitive groups, such as people with lung disease (including asthma), heart disease, and children and older adults, may experience health effects.

What does that alert on your weather app mean? Learn what makes air unhealthy and which individuals are included in sensitive groups.

Everyone knows that red means danger, but how did purple become a cautionary color? At an EPA conference in the late 1990s, attendees nearly came to blows over color coding on the Air Quality Index.

Everyone knows that red means danger, but how did purple become a cautionary color? At an EPA conference in the late 1990s, attendees nearly came to blows over color coding on the Air Quality Index.

When Credibility Matters

The smoke and haze conditions have drastically improved in Massachusetts since Tuesday, but meteorologists warn that the wildfire smoke could return in waves over the next several weeks. When those high concentrations of smoke come back, masks will help reduce peoples' exposure to the PM2.5 air pollution from wildfires.

Air quality is still in the Hazardous category for part of New Jersey Friday morning, as we look ahead to cleaner air, less haze, and a few spot showers.

The AQI is supposed to reach a higher number as the Friday continues on, with values expected to top out at between 110 and 150.

Parts of the Northeast saw modest air quality improvements through the day Thursday from the Canada wildfire smoke. How will Fridays forecast look?

The AQI, or Air Quality Index, is a measure of how polluted the air is.