Wildfire smoke once more triggers health warning for Upstate New York on Wednesday
Smoke from Canadian Wildfires Causes Air Quality Concerns in Upstate New York
Upstate New York is currently experiencing poor air quality due to smoke from over 280 wildfires burning in Canada, according to the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC). The smoke has been causing hazy skies and has resulted in an air quality advisory that has been ongoing for three days in a row.
The Air Quality Index (AQI) is expected to exceed a value of 100 on Wednesday, and the AQI in Syracuse was 122 at 5 p.m. on Tuesday. This means that the air quality is unhealthy for sensitive groups, and the higher the value on the AQI, the greater the health concern.
The smoke can cause short-term effects such as eye irritation, coughing, sneezing, and shortness of breath. It is particularly concerning for people with cardiovascular and respiratory conditions, children, the elderly, and those with weakened immune systems.
To minimize the risks, the DEC recommends people limit outdoor activities, especially strenuous exercise or work, particularly during times of highest smoke concentration (often early morning and evening). Residents are also advised to stay indoors as much as possible, keeping windows and doors closed to reduce smoke infiltration.
Using air filtration devices indoors, such as HEPA filters, can improve indoor air quality. Wearing N-95 masks or equivalent can reduce inhalation of fine particulate matter if outdoor exposure is unavoidable.
The affected regions include the Lower Hudson Valley, Upper Hudson Valley, Eastern Lake Ontario, Central New York, and Western New York, as well as the Adirondacks. Residents in these areas are encouraged to monitor air quality regularly via trusted sources like airnow.gov, local weather apps, or PurpleAir sensors to stay updated on pollution levels and health advisories.
Be alert for symptoms such as shortness of breath, chest pain, coughing, eye or throat irritation, headaches, or fatigue, and seek medical advice if symptoms worsen.
Ozone levels, which can be enhanced by wildfire smoke, are also a concern during summer heat and should prompt people to avoid outdoor exertion in high ozone periods (typically afternoon to early evening).
In conclusion, residents in Upstate New York are advised to reduce outdoor exposure, protect indoor air quality, use masks if outdoors, and monitor health and air quality updates due to ongoing Canadian wildfire smoke affecting air conditions.
- The ongoing air quality advisory in Upstate New York, due to Canadian wildfires, is particularly challenging for people with cardiovascular and respiratory medical-conditions, as the smoke can lead to shortness of breath, coughing, and other respiratory-conditions.
- To promote health-and-wellness during this time, residents are encouraged to use air filtration devices indoors, wear N-95 masks if outdoor exposure is necessary, and minimize outdoor activities, especially during times of highest smoke concentration, to avoid inhalation of fine particulate matter.
- Climate-change and environmental-science experts are concerned about the impact of wildfire smoke on air quality, as these incidents can raise ozone levels, requiring people to avoid outdoor exertion in high ozone periods and stay updated on pollution levels and health advisories.
