PHILADELPHIA—The Philadelphia Department of Public Health has declared that residents living in the area near the Hunting Park SEPTA bus depot can return to their normal routines. The fire caused a rise in the amount of particulate matter, both PM 2.5 and PM 10, and released benzene, ethylbenzene, and carbon monoxide into the air. The levels of those pollutants were recorded at their highest point in the early morning on Thursday, June 5, while the fire was still blazing. After the fire was placed under control, they began to drop. Last night, the Health Department implored residents in the area to stay indoors because there were still pollutants in the air, albeit at much lower levels than earlier in the day, out of an abundance of caution.

Air samples taken this morning show that levels of PM 2.5, PM 10, benzene, ethylbenzene, and carbon monoxide have dropped to normal levels, and the Health Department is lifting the stay inside recommendation.

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