Air Quality Health Advisory issued for NYC
Editor's note: The video aired on June 2.
NEW YORK (PIX11) — An Air Quality Health Advisory has been issued for New York City for Wednesday, according to the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation.
Air Quality Index values may reach between 101 and 150, which could raise health concerns for individuals sensitive to air pollution. The pollutant of concern is ozone.
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Children, adults, and individuals with lung diseases, including asthma, should limit prolonged or intense physical activity outdoors, according to officials.
The general public is less likely to be affected unless AQI values rise above 151. New Yorkers who experience a sore throat, coughing, headache, watering eyes, or are out of breath should stay indoors.
The announcement comes as officials warn that wildfire smoke from Canada is reaching the tri-state area.
Zachary Iscol, the New York City Emergency Management Commissioner, told PIX11 News that should things get worse, 'we'll have a distribution plan to get masks out to firehouses and police precincts and libraries where people can pick them.'
More: Latest News from Around the Tri-State
Dr. Stephani Lovinsky-Desir, the Chief of the Pediatric Pulmonary Division at Columbia Medical Center, recommends using an N95 mask and HEPA filter if the Air Quality Index gets to a dangerous level. She added that people with respiratory issues should keep medicine on hand, and children should be kept inside. Lovinsky-Desir said, 'Their lungs are small and still developing, so if it's possible to reduce outdoor play and activities for young children, definitely recommended.'
Click here to track the Air Quality Index for your area.
Ben Mitchell is a digital content producer from Vermont who has covered both local and international news since 2021. He joined PIX11 in 2024. See more of his work here.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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