New York state officials issued a health advisory on Saturday, July 26 as wildfire smoke drifting from Canada significantly reduced air quality across several regions, including New York City, Long Island, the Hudson Valley, and the Adirondacks.
The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) and Department of Health (DOH) declared an Air Quality Health Advisory effective from 10 a.m. to midnight, warning of elevated levels of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) that pose health risks, particularly for vulnerable populations.
Air Quality Index (AQI) readings surged throughout the day, reaching 158 in Albany and peaking at 187 in the northern Adirondacks. Any AQI above 100 is considered potentially harmful to sensitive groups, including children, the elderly, and individuals with respiratory or cardiovascular conditions.
Officials urged residents in affected regions to limit outdoor activities and remain indoors where possible. Even healthy individuals may experience eye, nose, and throat irritation, while those with pre-existing conditions could face more serious health impacts, including shortness of breath, chest pain, or heart complications.
The smoke originates from widespread wildfires burning across western and central Canada, where an unusually active fire season has scorched millions of acres and produced vast amounts of smoke. Weather patterns have carried the smoke across the border, triggering health advisories in several U.S. states over the summer.
This year’s wildfire season is on track to become one of the most destructive on record in terms of total emissions and land burned. Dozens of fires remain active and largely uncontained, releasing high concentrations of particulate matter into the atmosphere.
Fine particulate matter, or PM2.5, consists of airborne particles less than 2.5 microns in diameter. These particles can penetrate deep into the lungs and enter the bloodstream, causing inflammation, increased blood pressure, and higher risk of heart attacks and strokes. Even short-term exposure can aggravate asthma, bronchitis, and other respiratory conditions.
Authorities warn that further smoke events are likely as wildfires continue to burn throughout the summer. The increasing frequency and intensity of wildfire smoke episodes have drawn growing concern from health and environmental officials, who point to broader climate trends driving more extreme fire behavior across North America.
NYC Journals 