Air quality alert issued in Philadelphia area due to ozone level rather than Canadian wildfire smoke

PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) -- With the temperatures feeling like summer, we found folks getting outside in Pennsauken and getting some steps in at Cooper River Park.

"The weather's been strange, period," said Bruce Alford. "A lot of rain and then you get the high heat. It's been a big difference."

For Alford, getting outside is no problem, but he's hoping his sister stays inside.

"My sister has asthma," he explained. "She has the inhaler and some other breathing devices that she uses."

Wednesday is an air quality alert day for parts of our region.

The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection declared it an action day because of increased ozone levels.

Smoke from Canadian wildfires is mainly impacting the Upper Midwest, but it may also be noticeable in the upper atmosphere in our area.

"Certainly adults who have asthma can have issues with breathing, which includes shortness of breath, wheezing, coughing," said Dr. Emilio Mazza, a pulmonologist at Virtua Our Lady of Lourdes in Camden.

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He expects to see more patients coming in over the next few days.

He says folks with lung diseases, senior citizens and those who are pregnant need to be careful on days like this.

"Going outside, you could be asking for trouble," said Mazza. "Even people who have normal lungs can have trouble breathing in the really hot, humid, soupy days of our summer."

He says at-risk people should keep in touch with their doctors and avoid working or being active outside, especially in the middle of the day.

"Air conditioned air, really, that's the best place they could be. It's light air. Air conditioning pulls water out of the air. It's much easier for people to breathe," said Mazza. "It's cool air."

Things should improve after Wednesday, but alert days like this are common throughout the summer.

The area could also see some more wildfire smoke from Canada later in the week.

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