Air Quality Advisory: Putnam, Orange Counties

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Authorities have declared an air quality advisory of "orange" for the lower Hudson Valley till 11 p.m. on Monday.

Orange on the Air Quality Index means "unhealthy for sensitive groups," according to the Environmental Protection Agency.

"Think of the AQI as a yardstick that runs from 0 to 500," the EPA states on its website. "The higher the AQI value, the greater the level of air pollution and the greater the health concern. For example, an AQI value of 50 represents good air quality with little potential to affect public health, while an AQI value over 300 represents hazardous air quality. ... When AQI values are above 100, air quality is considered to be unhealthy-at first for certain sensitive groups of people, then for everyone as AQI values get higher."

According to the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, the AQI is at 120 all day for the lower Hudson Valley. Folks with lung or heart disease, the young, the elderly, and those with compromised immune systems are sensitive.

The pollutant of concern is: Ozone
The advisory will be in effect: 11 a.m. through 11 p.m.
DEC meteorologists also anticipate that due to current conditions downstate, New York could experience high ozone levels each day through the holiday weekend.
DEC and DOH issue Air Quality Health Advisories when DEC meteorologists predict levels of pollution; either ozone or fine particulate matter are expected to exceed an Air Quality Index (AQI) value of 100. The AQI was created as an easy way to correlate levels of different pollutants to one scale, with a higher AQI value indicating a greater health concern.
OZONE
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 are 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.
People, especially young children, those who exercise outdoors, those involved in vigorous outdoor work and those who have respiratory disease (such as asthma) should consider limiting strenuous outdoor physical activity when ozone levels are the highest (generally afternoon to early evening). When outdoor levels of ozone are elevated, going indoors will usually reduce your exposure. Individuals experiencing symptoms such as shortness of breath, chest pain or coughing should consider consulting their doctor.
Ozone levels generally decrease at night and can be minimized during daylight hours by curtailment of automobile travel and the use of public transportation where available.
New Yorkers are also urged to take the following energy-saving and pollution-reducing steps:

• use mass transit or carpool instead of driving as automobile emissions account for about 60 percent of pollution in our cities;
• conserve fuel and reduce exhaust emissions by combining necessary motor vehicle trips;
• turn off all lights and electrical appliances in unoccupied areas;
• use fans to circulate air. If air conditioning is necessary, set thermostats at 78 degrees;
• close the blinds and shades to limit heat build-up and to preserve cooled air;
• limit use of household appliances. If necessary, run the appliances at off-peak (after 7 p.m.) hours. These would include dishwashers, dryers, pool pumps and water heaters;
• set refrigerators and freezers at more efficient temperatures;
• purchase and install energy efficient lighting and appliances with the Energy Star label; and
• reduce or eliminate outdoor burning and attempt to minimize indoor sources of PM 2.5 such as smoking.

A toll-free Air Quality Hotline (1-800-535-1345) has been established by DEC to keep New Yorkers informed of the latest Air Quality situation. Further information on ozone and PM 2.5 is available on DEC’s web site at http://www.dec.ny.gov and http://www.health.ny.gov/environmental/outdoors/air/ozone.htm on the DOH website.Air Quality Health Advisory regions consist of the following: Region 3 Lower Hudson, which includes Sullivan, Ulster, Dutchess, Orange and Putnam counties.