An air quality health advisory for ozone will be in effect again Friday for Nassau and Suffolk counties, according to the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation.
Outdoor air quality is expected to be unhealthy for sensitive groups, with ground-level ozone forecast to exceed an Air Quality Index value of 100, the advisory said, the advisory says.
The advisory will be in effect from 11 a.m. through 11 p.m. on June 12. An advisory remains in effect Thursday until 11 p.m.
When pollution levels are elevated, the New York State Department of Health recommends limiting strenuous outdoor physical activity to reduce the risk of adverse health effects. Those most sensitive include young children and people with pre-existing respiratory problems such as asthma, as well as people with heart disease. Anyone experiencing symptoms should consider consulting a physician.
The advisory comes as hot and humid conditions continue across the region, with temperatures expected to reach the low 90s Thursday afternoon and again Friday, according to the National Weather Service. A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms is forecast late Thursday afternoon into the evening.
Increased heat can lead to the formation of ground-level ozone, a major component of photochemical smog, the DEC said. 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. This surface pollutant should not be confused with the protective layer of ozone in the upper atmosphere.
Ozone is not directly emitted, instead it is produced when sunlight chemically reacts with nitrogen oxides (NOx) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from automobile exhaust and industrial emissions. High AQI due to ozone is not as visible as PM2.5 because it is a colorless gas but will produce hazy skies and reduce visibility in high concentrations.
For more information, visit https://on.ny.gov/nyaqi or call the state air quality hotline at 1-800-535-1345.
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