Air quality alert issued throughout New York on Monday
Photo by Tom Rivers: These three people enjoy hydro-bikes on the Erie Canal in Medina on Thursday near the Horan Road bridge in an “On the Canals” program where hydro-bikes and kayaks can be rented for free through the Orleans County YMCA. (Click here for more information.) People are cautioned from strenuous outdoor exercise on Monday due to wildlfire smoke causing poor air quality.
An air quality alert has been issued on Monday for Orleans County and all of New York State due to the wildfire smoke from Canada.
The alert begins at midnight and continues through 11:59 p.m. on Monday.
The air-quality levels in outdoor air are predicted to be greater than an Air Quality Index value of 151 for Fine Particulates. The Air Quality Index was created as an easy way to correlate
levels of different pollutants to one scale. The higher the AQI value, the greater the health concern, the National Weather Service said.
The AQI value is normally in the range of 0 to 50.
When pollution levels are elevated, the New York State Department of Health recommends that individuals consider limiting strenuous outdoor physical activity to reduce the risk of adverse health effects.
People who may be especially sensitive to the effects of elevated levels of pollutants include the very young and those with pre-existing respiratory problems such as asthma or heart disease, according to the Department of Health.
