On Sunday, an air quality health advisory is in effect for the Long Island and NYC Metro regions. The Air Quality Index (AQI) value is expected to reach 105 in both areas, which is considered unhealthy for sensitive groups. Sensitive groups include young children, people with cardiovascular disease, and respiratory disease such as asthma. If individuals experience symptoms such as shortness of breath, chest pain, or coughing, it is recommended to consult their personal physician.
The State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) has stated that the pollutant of concern is ground-level ozone. The formation of ground-level ozone is attributed to summer heat and is a major component of photochemical smog. Automobile exhaust and out-of-state emission sources are identified as the primary sources of ground-level ozone, posing serious air pollution issues in the Northeast according to the DEC.
Air quality health advisories are issued by the state when DEC meteorologists predict levels of pollution, either ozone or fine particulate matter, are expected to exceed an AQI value of 100. The advisory will be in effect from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. on Sunday. This marks the fourth consecutive day that an advisory has been in effect, with ground-level ozone being the pollutant of concern each day with AQI values in the 101-150 range, considered unhealthy for sensitive groups. An AQI of 151-200 is regarded as unhealthy for everyone. For more information about the AQI and how to protect yourself during an air quality health advisory, visit this page on the NYSDEC website.
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