air pollution in downtown cleveland

Cleveland Experiencing High Levels of Air Pollution

Thursday, Jun 29, 2023

The Cleveland Department of Public Health (CDPH) Division of Air Quality (DAQ) has issued a health alert due to elevated levels of fine particulate matter caused in major part by wildfires in Canada. The Northeast Ohio Areawide Coordinating Agency (NOACA) has also issued an Air Quality Advisory, due to an exceedance of fine particulate levels in the "Very Unhealthy" Air Quality Index (AQI) range.  

Check the daily Air Quality Index and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Fire and Smoke map at airnow.gov to view hourly updates. 

 

Important Health Safety Information 

During periods when the air is “Very Unhealthy” CDPH recommends that individuals with heart or lung disease, older adults, children, and teens:

  • Avoid outdoor activities as much as possible. 
  • Stay inside with the windows closed.  

Everyone else:

  • Limit outdoor activities especially strenuous outdoor activities. 
  • Keep outdoor activities as short as possible. 
  • Re-assign outdoor work to indoor activities except in emergent situations.  

Those with heart disease or COPD should pay close attention to symptoms such as chest pain or tightness, a fast heartbeat, feeling more out of breath than usual, or extreme fatigue. Contact your health care provider or system, or if symptoms are severe, call 9-1-1. Check the daily Air Quality Index and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Fire and Smoke Map at www.airnow.gov to view hourly updates, as the condition will change hour to hour.

 

Cancellations

As a result of the air quality health alert, the Division of Recreation will suspend all outdoor programming today, June 28, 2023. The following programs and services are suspended.

  • Outdoor pool  
  • Playground programs including meals served at playgrounds  
  • Spray basins/water parks  
  • Baseball programs 

     

Outdoor Work 

As a result of the air quality health alert, outdoor work including waste collection, mowing, road repair, line painting, etc, is cancelled for today, June 28, 2023. Indoor work including property maintenance, vehicle repair, administrative work, and station maintenance is operating as usual.

Update June 29, 2023

Waste collection services will be provided on a delayed schedule this week due to the air quality health alert. Residents are to leave their carts on the tree lawn.