An air quality alert has been issued for several parts of New York State today, with ground-level ozone levels expected to reach unhealthy levels for sensitive groups.
But while areas like New York City, Westchester, Rockland, the Lower Hudson Valley, and parts of Western New York are under formal advisories, Long Island is seeing only moderate air quality conditions.
According to the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC), these elevated ozone levels are the result of summer pollution — specifically, the chemical reaction of vehicle emissions and industrial pollutants under intense sun and heat.
As of this morning, the Air Quality Index (AQI) is forecast to be 101–105 (Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups) in NYC, the Lower Hudson Valley, and Western NY; and 84 (Moderate) across most of Long Island.
It’s Not the Smoke — It’s the Ozone
Though Canadian wildfire smoke may contribute to hazy skies today — a flashback to the wildfires of 2023 and more recent New Jersey fires — it’s mostly lingering in the upper atmosphere and not expected to significantly affect ground-level air quality.
The real health concern stems from ground-level ozone, which forms on hot, sunny days when nitrogen oxides and volatile organic compounds react in the air.
This kind of ozone can irritate the lungs, especially for sensitive individuals including children, seniors, and those with asthma or other respiratory illnesses.
What You Should Do
If you live in an area where AQI exceeds 100:
- Limit outdoor exertion, especially in the afternoon and early evening
- Stay indoors with filtered air if possible
A high-quality air purify is a must-need home appliance these days.
If you’re in the market for an air purifier, be sure to look for one with a HEPA filter. Those are designed to capture fine particulate matter like PM2.5. Read the description to make sure the unit is appropriately sized for the room it’s used in.
Performance, of course, matters most. But it’s also worth considering the filter replacement cost of an air purifier.
While a high-quality air purifier can cost several hundred dollars, the availability and cost of filter replacements vary by brand and model.
If you’re looking for an air purifier for a large bedroom, consider the Coway Airmega AP-1512HH(W), the Levoit Vital 200S-P, or the WINIX 5520.