Air Quality Advisory Issued for Pennsylvania Amidst Wildfire Smoke Incursion

Report on Public Health and Environmental Impact

The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has issued a Code Orange Air Quality Action Day for a significant portion of the state, including south-central Pennsylvania. This measure is a direct response to the influx of smoke from Canadian wildfires, an event that underscores the interconnectedness of environmental health and human well-being, central tenets of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

This advisory directly addresses SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being) and SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities) by alerting citizens to environmental health risks and promoting actions to ensure safer community environments.

Health Implications and Vulnerable Populations: A Focus on SDG 3

Understanding the Code Orange Advisory

A Code Orange declaration signifies that atmospheric concentrations of pollutants, specifically particulate matter from the wildfire smoke, have reached levels considered unhealthy for sensitive populations. This aligns with the core objective of SDG 3 to ensure healthy lives for all at all ages. The groups most at risk include:

• Children
• The elderly
• Individuals with pre-existing heart or respiratory conditions, such as asthma, emphysema, and bronchitis.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Air Quality Index (AQI)

The DEP utilizes the EPA’s standardized AQI to communicate health risks to the public. An Air Quality Action Day is declared when the forecast indicates Code Orange or higher. The AQI framework is as follows:

• Green: Good air quality.
• Yellow: Moderate air quality.
• Orange: Unhealthy for sensitive groups.
• Red: Unhealthy for everyone.

Environmental Context and Broader SDG Implications

Wildfires, Climate, and Ecosystems (SDG 13 & SDG 15)

The increasing frequency and intensity of wildfires are linked to global climate trends, highlighting the urgency of SDG 13 (Climate Action). These events not only produce transboundary air pollution affecting human health but also devastate terrestrial ecosystems, directly impacting SDG 15 (Life on Land).

Recommended Actions for Sustainable Communities (SDG 11)

In an effort to mitigate local contributions to air pollution and protect public health, the DEP advises residents and businesses to voluntarily limit certain activities. These recommendations support the goal of creating resilient and sustainable communities under SDG 11. Citizens are encouraged to avoid:

• The use of gasoline-powered lawn and garden equipment.
• Open burning of leaves, trash, or other materials.
• The use of wood stoves or fireplaces.

Resources and Public Monitoring

Informed citizens are crucial for effective public health responses. Real-time and granular air quality data is available to the public through various platforms, empowering individuals to make decisions that protect their health. Official information can be accessed through:

1. The Pennsylvania DEP’s Air Quality Partnership program.
2. The U.S. EPA’s AirNow website.
3. Citizen-science networks like PurpleAir, which provide localized, street-by-street air quality readings.

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

The article on the Code Orange Air Quality Action Day in Pennsylvania due to wildfire smoke connects to several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The primary connections are based on the direct health impacts of air pollution, the management of air quality in populated areas, and the underlying cause of the pollution being a climate-related disaster.

• SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

  This is the most directly relevant SDG. The article’s central theme is the health risk posed by air pollution. It explicitly states that a “Code Orange advisory represents levels of particulate matter or other pollutants that are unhealthy for sensitive groups of people, including children, the elderly and those with heart or respiratory problems like asthma, emphysema and bronchitis.” This directly addresses the goal of ensuring healthy lives and promoting well-being for all at all ages.

• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

  The article discusses a regional air quality issue affecting “much of the state, including most of south-central Pa.” The declaration of an Air Quality Action Day is a measure to manage the environmental quality within communities and cities. The focus on urban and regional air quality and its impact on residents aligns with the goal of making cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable.

• SDG 13: Climate Action

  The source of the pollution is identified as “Canadian wildfire smoke.” Wildfires are increasingly recognized as a climate-related hazard, often exacerbated by changing climate patterns. The issuance of an air quality advisory is a response to a natural disaster, which connects to the need for resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

Based on the issues discussed, specific targets within the identified SDGs can be pinpointed:

1. Target 3.9

   “By 2030, substantially reduce the number of deaths and illnesses from hazardous chemicals and air, water and soil pollution and contamination.”

   The article’s entire focus is on the health threat from air pollution. The “Code Orange” declaration is a preventative measure aimed at reducing illness by warning the public, especially “sensitive groups,” about unhealthy levels of “particulate matter or other pollutants.” This directly supports the objective of reducing illnesses caused by air pollution.

2. Target 11.6

   “By 2030, reduce the adverse per capita environmental impact of cities, including by paying special attention to air quality and municipal and other waste management.”

   The article deals with managing poor air quality in a populated region of Pennsylvania. The actions of the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) and the provision of data through systems like the EPA’s Air Quality Index and PurpleAir’s network are all measures related to paying “special attention to air quality” to mitigate its adverse environmental impact on the population.

3. Target 13.1

   “Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters in all countries.”

   The wildfire smoke is a transboundary natural hazard linked to climate change. The “Code Orange Air Quality Action Day” is an institutional mechanism to build resilience and help the population adapt to the immediate effects of this hazard. By informing the public and advising precautionary measures, authorities are strengthening the community’s adaptive capacity.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

Yes, the article explicitly and implicitly mentions several indicators used to measure air quality and inform the public, which are crucial for tracking progress towards the identified targets.

• Air Quality Index (AQI) and Color Codes

  The article explicitly mentions the “U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Air Quality Index (AQI)” as the system used to report daily air quality. It details the standardized color codes: “Green signifies good air quality; Yellow means moderate air quality; Orange represents unhealthy pollution levels for sensitive groups of people; and Red warns of unhealthy pollution levels for all.” The declaration of a “Code Orange” day is itself a data point based on this indicator, signifying that a specific threshold of pollution has been crossed. This serves as a direct, practical indicator for Target 11.6 and Target 3.9.

• Levels of Particulate Matter

  The article states that a Code Orange advisory is based on “levels of particulate matter or other pollutants.” While it doesn’t give specific concentration values (e.g., µg/m³), it directly names the pollutant being measured. This aligns with the official SDG indicator 11.6.2: Annual mean levels of fine particulate matter (e.g. PM2.5 and PM10) in cities. The monitoring of particulate matter is the underlying measurement for the AQI.

• Real-time, Granular Air Quality Data

  The article references “PurpleAir, a company that sells air quality sensors and publishes real-time air quality data” through a “citizen scientist, air quality monitoring network with a more granular map of street-by-street air quality readings.” This points to advanced and localized monitoring systems that provide high-frequency data, which can be used as a sophisticated indicator to track air quality fluctuations and public exposure with high precision.

4. Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: fox43.com