what to know
The warning was put in place early due to concerns about ozone-related pollutants. The advisory will be in effect from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday. Along with New York City and Long Island, Rockland and Westchester counties are also under an air quality health advisory. People, especially young children, those who exercise outdoors, those who do jobs Outdoor activities and those with respiratory conditions (such as asthma) should consider limiting strenuous physical activity outdoors when ozone levels are highest (usually in the evening to night).
NEW YORK — New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Basil Seggos and State Department of Health (DOH) Commissioner Dr. James McDonald have issued a health advisory about the quality of air for the Long Island and New York City metropolitan regions on Friday, July 28.
The warning was put in place early due to concerns about ozone-related pollutants. The advisory will be in effect from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday. Along with New York City and Long Island, Rockland and Westchester counties are also under the air quality health advisory.
DEC and DOH issue air quality health advisories when DEC meteorologists predict levels of pollution, either ozone or fine particulate matter (PM2.5), that are expected to exceed an air quality index value ( AQI) of 100. The AQI was created as an easy way to correlate the levels of different contaminants on a scale, with a higher AQI value indicating a greater health problem.
OZONE
Summer heat can lead to the formation of ozone at ground level, a major component of photochemical smog. Automobile exhaust and out-of-state emission sources are the main sources of ground-level ozone and are the most serious air pollution problems in the Northeast. This surface pollutant should not be confused with the protective ozone layer in the upper atmosphere.
Ozone is not a direct emission and is produced indirectly when sunlight chemically reacts with oxides of nitrogen (NOx) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from automobile exhaust and industrial emissions. High ozone is not as visible as PM2.5 because it is a colorless gas, but it will produce cloudy skies and reduce visibility at high concentrations.
People, especially young children, those who exercise outdoors, those who do strenuous work outdoors, and those with respiratory conditions (such as asthma) should consider limiting strenuous physical activity outdoors when ozone levels are low. higher (usually from afternoon to night). When outdoor ozone levels are high, going indoors will generally reduce your exposure. People experiencing symptoms such as shortness of breath, chest pain, or cough should consider seeing their doctor.
Ozone levels generally decrease at night and can be minimized during the day by reducing car travel and using public transportation when available.
New Yorkers are also urged to take the following steps to save energy and reduce pollution:
Using public transport or carpooling instead of driving, since car emissions account for about 60 percent of the pollution in our cities; Conserve fuel and reduce tailpipe emissions by combining necessary motor vehicle travel; Turn off all lights and electrical appliances in unoccupied areas; use fans to circulate air. If air conditioning is necessary, set the thermostats to 78 degrees; Close blinds and curtains to limit heat buildup and preserve fresh air; Limit the use of electrical appliances. If necessary, run appliances at off-peak hours (after 7:00 pm). These would include dishwashers, dryers, pool pumps, and water heaters; Set refrigerators and freezers at more efficient temperatures; Purchase and install energy-efficient lighting and appliances with the Energy Star label; y Reduce or eliminate outdoor burning and try to minimize indoor sources of PM 2.5, such as smoking. DEC has established a toll-free air quality hotline (1-800-535-1345) to keep New Yorkers informed of the latest air quality situation.
2023-07-28 01:37:18
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