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Air quality issues could pose risk to some residents, says Health Department

A screenshot of the air quality data platform PurpleAir shows the location of monitors in Hopkinton and up-to-date data on air quality.

The town advised residents on Tuesday to be aware of reduced air quality as wildfires in Canada continue to send smoke over the region.

A Facebook post from the town noted that wildfire smoke is impacting the town, despite positive air quality forecasts. “The current air quality is unhealthy and some individuals with respiratory disease or conditions may experience health effects within 24 hours of exposure,” the post stated.

“We have unhealthy air at the moment,” added Shaun McAuliffe, the town’s Health Director.

The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection issued a statewide air quality advisory on Monday, warning that air quality was expected to be “unhealthy” for certain groups. This includes individuals with respiratory disease, lung or heart disease and older adults, among others.

Wildfire smoke is expected to linger in New England, though concentrations will be higher in western Massachusetts, according to a report from CBS News.

In the meantime, the Health Department is using recently installed air quality monitors placed across town to keep an eye on conditions and provide updates to residents as necessary. McAuliffe noted that the platform PurpleAir, which captures real-time data from connected sensors all around the world, shows an air quality index of up to 150 micrograms per meter.

“Hopkinton normally ranges between 20-30,” McAuliffe said.

He went on to explain that the monitors across town detect particles that are 2.5 microns or less in size. “At that size, particles can be inhaled into the lungs and pose a health risk … especially to those that are sensitive to air irritants,” he said.

McAuliffe advised that residents with sensitivities to reduced air quality or those engaging in rigorous exercise should consider limiting their outdoor exposure until conditions improve. He also said he is looking into what recommendations the Massachusetts Department of Public Health has regarding camps and training programs for high school athletic teams.

The Health Department is able to provide quicker guidance on air quality issues thanks to the new sensors across town. Obtained through a grant from MassDEP, the sensors are meant to help both educate the public and provide actionable data to local and state authorities.

McAuliffe recommended residents visit the PurpleAir site for themselves to get the most up-to-date information on Hopkinton’s air conditions.

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Photo of the Day

Clouds form over the Legacy Farms North development on a recent evening.

PHOTO/AMIT JAGDALE