An air quality health advisory is in effect today in the Long Island region. The Air Quality Index value is expected to reach 105, which is considered unhealthy for sensitive groups.
Sensitive groups include young children, people with cardiovascular disease and respiratory disease such as asthma. Individuals experiencing symptoms such as shortness of breath, chest pain, or coughing should consider consulting their personal physician.
The pollutant of concern is ground-level ozone, the State Department of Environmental Conservation said in a press release Friday afternoon. Summer heat can lead to the formation of ground-level ozone, a major component of photochemical smog. Automobile exhaust and out-of-state emission sources are the primary sources of ground-level ozone and the most serious air pollution problems in the Northeast, according to the State DEC.
The state issues air quality health advisories when DEC meteorologists predict levels of pollution, either ozone or fine particulate matter, are expected to exceed an AQI value of 100.
The advisory will be in effect from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Sunday.
Air quality health advisories have been in effect four consecutive days, beginning on Thursday. On each day, the pollutant of concern has been ground-level ozone with AQI values in the 101-150 range, considered unhealthy for sensitive groups. An AQI of 151-200 is considered unhealthy for everyone. For more information about the AQI visit this page on the NYSDEC website.
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