Hold your breath, folks! Smoke from Canadian wildfires has made its way down to the Atlantic Coast of the United States, and it’s causing some serious problems. New York City is essentially disappearing behind a wall of smoke and haze, with orange skies and streetlights turned on at 2 pm ET. The air quality is so bad that flights have been delayed and residents are being warned to stay indoors or wear masks if they venture outside.
As of 2:44 pm ET, the IQ Air website measured New York’s Air Quality Index at 342, far above the threshold of 301 denoting “hazardous” air quality. That’s worse than the air quality in Delhi, India, which is known for its pollution problems. The situation is even worse in other parts of the state, such as Syracuse.
What’s causing this? Well, nearly half of the 423 active wildfires in Canada are in the eastern part of the country, which is unusual. Typically, wildfire season in Canada affects mostly western provinces, such as Alberta. With a northerly flow in place, the smoke and haze have swirled down into the Eastern United States, affecting major cities like New York, Philadelphia, and Washington, DC.
The good news is that the wind pattern should begin to shift toward the weekend, pushing more of the smoke and haze offshore into the Atlantic Ocean. This should provide some relief to the Eastern United States. However, the Canadian wildfires observed this year have set records for their extent and duration, and climate scientists warn that these more intense and extended wildfire seasons will become more likely as the planet warms and droughts worsen.
So, stay safe and keep an eye on the air quality in your area. And let’s hope for some rain to help put out those fires up north.
Recently, air quality in New York has plummeted to hazardous levels, leaving residents vulnerable to a wide range of serious air-related health problems. Data collected by the World Air Quality Index Project reveals that the air quality in New York is the worst in the world.
The air quality in New York has been significantly impacted because of the presence of ground-level ozone, a result of pollution created from vehicle exhaust fumes and other air pollutants which react with the sun’s heat. This harmful pollutant can irritate lungs and have serious health effects, such as difficulty breathing.
In the past few months, increasing numbers of people in New York have suffered from the side effects of poor air quality, including coughing, irritated eyes, nose-bleeds, and fatigue. In particular, the elderly, children, and people already suffering from cardiovascular and respiratory diseases are most vulnerable to the health issues caused by poor air quality.
In response, New York’s officials are taking steps towards reducing the pollutants that contribute to the current poor air quality. Regulations have been enacted which restrict the amount of exhaust that vehicles and businesses can produce in an effort to lower the ground-level ozone levels. Additionally, restrictions on building materials such as paint and cleaning products have been implemented.
It is the responsibility of all New Yorkers to work towards restoring the air quality in their state. It is by cutting back on air pollutants – such as driving less, buying more efficient cars, and using natural, non-toxic products – that the air quality can be improved and that the health of its residents can be protected.
Through collective efforts and proper governance, New York can achieve better air quality standards in the future.
