NEW YORK – An air quality health advisory is in effect Tuesday for New York City and much of the surrounding area.
This is due to ground-level ozone.
The advice applies until Tuesday 11 p.m.
The advisory was issued as the air quality index (AQI) is expected to exceed 100 on Tuesday afternoon.
Children and adults who are active outdoors should reduce prolonged or strenuous exertion, officials said. The same goes for people with breathing problems, such as asthma or lung disease. People belonging to these sensitive groups are encouraged to make their outdoor activities shorter and less intense and to take more breaks.
The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection also declared an Air Quality Action Day.
About ground-level ozone
“Ground-level ozone is the main ingredient of smog,” according to the New York State Department of Health. Vehicles, power plants, gas equipment and more all contribute to ozone pollution. Stagnant air and high humidity also contribute by trapping pollutants and fine particles known as PM2.5 that react in the presence of sunlight.
Ozone levels generally decrease at night.
According to the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, taking the following steps will help reduce pollution:
- Use public transport or carpool instead of driving a car; car emissions are responsible for about 60 percent of the pollution in our cities
- Save fuel and reduce tailpipe emissions by combining necessary motor vehicle trips
- Turn off all lights and electrical appliances in uninhabited areas
- Use fans to circulate the air. If air conditioning is necessary, set thermostats to 78 degrees
- Close blinds and shades to limit heat build-up and maintain cooled air
- Limit the use of household appliances. If necessary, run the units during off-peak hours (after 7 p.m.). This includes dishwashers, dryers, swimming pool pumps and boilers
- Set refrigerators and freezers to more efficient temperatures
- Purchase and install energy-efficient lighting and appliances with the Energy Star label
- Reduce or eliminate outdoor combustion and try to minimize indoor sources of PM2.5, such as smoking.
You can always receive the latest weather warnings and advisories from the First Alert Weather Team.
