An air quality alert has been issued for Long Island and New York city today through 11 p.m. tonight, state Department of Environmental Conservation has announced.
Ground-level ozone is expected to be elevated to unhealthy levels , prompting the ozone health advisory for the NYC-Long Island region.
The air quality index for ozone on Long Island today is forecast to reach 110, which means the air is unhealthy for sensitive groups. People with lung disease, children, older adults, and people who are active can be particularly affected when ozone levels are unhealthy. An AQI of 150 for ozone is unhealthy for all.
Young children, the elderly, those who exercise or are involved in strenuous outdoor work, and those with pre-existing respiratory or heart problems should limit strenuous outdoor activity.
Breathing ozone can worsen bronchitis, emphysema, and asthma, according to the federal Environmental Protection Agency. Ground-level ozone also can reduce lung function and inflame the linings of the lungs.
For more information, see the NYS DEC ozone fact sheet.
Weather forecasters, meanwhile, are predicting potentially severe thunderstorms for our area tonight, most likely between 8 and 10 p.m. Forecasters say the storms could bring heavy rain, gusty winds and small hail.
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