New York City Mayor Eric Adams addressed the deteriorating air quality across the five boroughs on Tuesday night due to smoke coming from recently reported Canadian wildfires, with the Air Quality Index hitting 218 at 10 p.m. on Tuesday in parts of New York City, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). A rating of 218 means “very unhealthy” on the “Levels of Health Concern,” according to City officials.

 

“Smoke from wildfires in Canada began to impact New York City’s air quality today, and conditions this evening have worsened with additional smoke and haze moving into the region,” Adams said. “Our team is coordinating with the health department, environmental protection (EPA), emergency management (EMS), the NYPD, the FDNY, the department of education, the department of consumer and worker protection, and numerous additional agencies across the city to gather the right information for New Yorkers as quickly as possible.”

 

The mayor continued, “At this point, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation has issued an Air Quality Health Advisory for all five boroughs. While conditions are anticipated to temporarily improve later tonight through tomorrow morning, they are expected to deteriorate further tomorrow afternoon and evening.”

Adams added on Tuesday, “Currently, we are taking precautions out of an abundance of caution to protect New Yorkers’ health until we are able to get a better sense of future air quality reports. We recommend all New Yorkers limit outdoor activity to the greatest extent possible. Those with preexisting respiratory problems, like heart or breathing problems, as well as children and older adults may be especially sensitive and should stay indoors at this time.”

 

The mayor said that while all students should still go to school on Wednesday, New York City public schools would not offer any outdoor activities on Wednesday. “These recommendations may change based on updated air quality conditions that come in, but in the meantime, we recommend all New Yorkers to take the precautions they see fit to protect their health.”

 

City officials said the Adams administration recommends the following steps to limit health risks as a result of the reduced air quality:

• All New Yorkers should limit outdoor activity and stay inside when possible. People with heart or breathing problems and children and older adults may be especially sensitive and should avoid outdoor activities during this time.
• If you are an older adult or have heart or breathing problems and need to be outside, wear a high-quality mask (e.g. N95 or KN95).

 

They said additional recommendations from the EPA can be found online here.

 

Under New York City’s Paid Safe and Sick Leave Law, covered employees have the right to use safe and sick leave for the care and treatment of themselves or a family member. Employers and employees can visit New York City Department of Consumer and Worker Protection’s website or call 311 for more information about the law.

 

A toll-free air quality hotline has been established so New York residents can stay informed on the air quality situation. The toll-free number is 1-800-535-1345.

 

Earlier on Tuesday, NYS Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Basil Seggos and NYS Department of Health (DOH) Commissioner Dr. James McDonald had issued an Air Quality Health Advisory for the Long Island, New York City Metro, Eastern Lake Ontario, Central New York and Western New York regions for Wednesday, June 7. The pollutant of concern, they said, is “Fine Particulate Matter” and they said the advisory will be in effect from 12 a.m. through 11:59 p.m. on Wednesday.

 

State officials said DEC and DOH issue Air Quality Health Advisories when DEC meteorologists predict levels of pollution, either ozone or fine particulate matter are expected to exceed an Air Quality Index (AQI) value of 100. The AQI was created as an easy way to correlate levels of different pollutants to one scale, with a higher AQI value indicating a greater health concern.

 

Fine particulate matter consists of tiny solid particles or liquid droplets in the air that are 2.5 microns or less in diameter. PM 2.5 can be made of many different types of particles and often come from processes that involve combustion (e.g. vehicle exhaust, power plants, and fires) and from chemical reactions in the atmosphere.

 

Exposure can cause short-term health effects such as irritation to the eyes, nose, and throat, coughing, sneezing, runny nose, and shortness of breath. Exposure to elevated levels of fine particulate matter can also worsen medical conditions such as asthma and heart disease. People with heart or breathing problems, and children and the elderly may be particularly sensitive to PM 2.5.

 

When outdoor levels are elevated, going indoors may reduce exposure. If there are significant indoor sources of PM 2.5 (tobacco, candle or incense smoke, or fumes from cooking) levels inside may not be lower than outside. Some ways to reduce exposure are to minimize outdoor and indoor sources and avoid strenuous activities in areas where fine particle concentrations are high.

 

New Yorkers also are urged to take the following energy saving and pollution-reducing steps:

1. use mass transit instead of driving, as automobile emissions account for about 60 percent of pollution in our cities. During the current COVID-19 pandemic, people are strongly advised to carpool only with members of their households;
2. conserve fuel and reduce exhaust emissions by combining necessary motor vehicle trips;
3. turn off all lights and electrical appliances in unoccupied areas;
4. use fans to circulate air. If air conditioning is necessary, set thermostats at 78 degrees;
5. close the blinds and shades to limit heat build-up and to preserve cooled air;
6. limit use of household appliances. If necessary, run the appliances at off-peak (after 7 p.m.) hours. These would include dishwashers, dryers, pool pumps and water heaters;
7. set refrigerators and freezers at more efficient temperatures;
8. purchase and install energy efficient lighting and appliances with the Energy Star label; and
9. reduce or eliminate outdoor burning and attempt to minimize indoor sources of PM 2.5 such as smoking.

 

Additional information on ozone and PM 2.5 is available on DEC’s website and on DOH’s website.

 

 

AccuWeather meteorologists assessed as of Thursday, June 7, the unusual outbreak of wildfire smoke blanketing the Northeastern US from distant Canadian wildfires to be the worst smoke outbreak in the Northeastern United States in more than 20 years. AccuWeather Chief Meteorologist Jonathan Porter said “as bad as the smoke and air pollution was on Tuesday, the air quality can be even worse at times across parts of the Northeast on Wednesday, and poor air quality is expected to linger in some areas into the weekend.”

 

Porter said “people should frequently check the AccuWeather exclusive Plume Labs air quality maps at https://www.accuweather.com/airquality and limit their time outdoors in areas with air pollution while using a high quality N95 or KN95 mask if you must be outdoors.  Indoors, sleeping with the windows closed and using an air conditioner or fan can be helpful, and using a HEPA filter can reduce the number of these small particles from the air.”

On Wednesday, June 7, after school programs were canceled according to a citywide alert and many residents were seen wearing masks on the streets, and the NY Daily News reported that flights were being grounded at La Guardia airport due to poor visibility. The Adams administration also announced that alternate side parking regulations will be suspended on Thursday, June 8, due to poor air quality. Payment at parking meters will remain in effect throughout the City.

 

Meanwhile, the NYC Department of Transportation (DOT) announced on Wednesday that a planned workshop to reimagine the Cross Bronx Expressway on Thursday, June 8, has been postponed. “We will announce a new date soon and we invite the public and press to join us for any of the upcoming workshops,” the notice read. More information can be found here.