Seacoast NH, Maine warned: Canadian wildfires to cause bad air day. Here's what to know.

PORTSMOUTH — Residents in Seacoast New Hampshire and parts of Maine are being warned air pollution concentrations are expected to reach unhealthy levels for sensitive individuals Thursday, June 1, due to in part to smoke from Canadian wildfires.

A warning was issued Wednesday by the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services. Officials are calling for an Air Quality Action Day and advise sensitive individuals to take precautions to protect their health by limiting prolonged outdoor exertion. Sensitive individuals include children and older adults; anyone with lung disease such as asthma, emphysema, or bronchitis; and people who are active outdoors. Even non-sensitive individuals could experience mild health effects and may want to consider limiting strenuous or prolonged outdoor activities, officials stated.

What to expect Thursday from Seacoast to Boston

Officials forecast concentrations of ground-level ozone (the main component of smog) will rise to levels that are unhealthy for sensitive individuals. Winds are predicted to transport regional air pollution from upwind areas to the New Hampshire Seacoast. High temperatures and sunny skies, in addition to the smoke from wildfires in Nova Scotia, enhance the creation of ozone. The predicted air pollution will be transported with the winds along a band stretching from the Boston metropolitan area to the New Hampshire coastline, officials stated. Air quality is expected to improve by Friday, particularly in the afternoon, when temperatures are anticipated to cool and cloud cover is forecasted to increase, officials said.

From Tin Cans to RVs:Libby’s Oceanside Campground celebrates 100 years on York Beach. Family refuses to sell to developers.

Conditions expected to be 'moderate' in rest of NH

Ozone levels in other areas of the state are expected to be moderate Thursday. In addition to ozone, levels of fine particle air pollution are expected to be moderate statewide on Thursday. Moderate means that individuals who are unusually sensitive to air pollution should consider limiting prolonged exertion.

What are symptoms to watch?

Symptoms of ozone exposure may include coughing, wheezing, chest tightness, shortness of breath, or pain when inhaling deeply. People with asthma and other existing lung diseases may not be able to breathe as deeply or vigorously as normal and may experience symptoms such as coughing and shortness of breath. The symptoms can increase as air pollutant concentrations increase.

Hampton Beach:Big events returning in 2023. Here's the lineup

Safety tips and resources

The state Department of Environmental Services can be reached at (603) 271-1370. For air quality forecasts and current air pollution levels in New Hampshire, call 1-800-935-SMOG or visit www4.des.state.nh.us/airdata.

The American Lung Association offers these five tips:

• Stay indoors. People living close to the fire-stricken areas should remain indoors and avoid breathing smoke, ashes and other pollution in the area.
• Protect the air in your home. Keep doors, windows and fireplace dampers shut and preferably with clean air circulating through air conditioners on the recirculation setting.
• Keep an eye on symptoms. Higher levels of smoke in some areas can make breathing more difficult. If you are experiencing symptoms, contact your healthcare provider.
• Take precautions for kids. Extra precaution should be taken for children and teens, who are more susceptible to smoke. Their lungs are still developing, and they breathe in more air (and consequently more pollution) for their size than adults.
• Ask for help. The American Lung Association’s Lung HelpLine at 1-800-LUNGUSA is staffed by nurses and respiratory therapists and is a free resource to answer any questions about the lungs, lung disease and lung health, including how to protect yourself during wildfires. Information: Lung.org/wildfires.