A peaceful autumn scene on Shelter Island, New York, featuring calm blue waters with a wooden pier extending into the bay. The shoreline is framed by golden marsh grasses, and a lighthouse is visible in the distance, surrounded by colorful fall foliage. The serene setting captures the natural beauty of the island during the fall season, emphasizing calm waters and seasonal colors.
A couple of weeks ago, New York officials put out a notice (link here) for citizens of Long Island, the New York City metropolitan area, and the lower Hudson Valley.
It was an ozone advisory for 11 A.M. through 11 P.M., on Monday, August 11.
And it stressed air quality awareness, while suggesting the residents should consider limiting their time outside.
The Facts About Ozone Health Advisories
As this notice pointed out, the summer heat can lead to higher levels of ground-level ozone.
The official agencies called it a “major component of photochemical smog.”
Much of this ozone is generated through automobile exhaust, and other emissions mixing with sunlight.
Sunlight chemically reacts with nitrogen oxide and various types of chemicals that are in vehicle exhaust and industrial pollution. So it’s not a unitary pollutant – it’s the product of a chemical reaction. But it’s one with particular effects. Ozone can be very damaging in high amounts, and it’s undesirable even at low levels.
Target risk groups include the elderly people with asthma, young children, and people who are involved in strenuous activities outdoors.
Who’s in Charge?
The Long Island notice was sent by the Secretary of the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation and the state Department of Health commissioner.
It’s interesting to point out that different states have their own names for the state agencies responsible to warn people about clean air, and generally regulate a state environment.
For instance, the state of New York has a Department of Environmental Conservation that has jurisdiction over the entire state. It also has a Department of Environmental Protection that only works within the local New York City metro area.
Pennsylvania, by contrast, has a state Department of Environmental Protection with jurisdiction over the entire state, and no Department of Environmental Conservation at all, representing reason number 1001 why people don’t like government acronyms.
Regardless, whatever you want to call it, these offices are tasked with informing residents and helping them understand the threats to their personal health.
Are Long Island Ozone Warnings New?
If you’re wondering whether Long Island residents have always been getting these dire warnings about the quality of their outdoor air, the answer is that this has been a challenge in the region for a long time. However, the public notices have been getting more frequent and more visible, partly because of social media and more digital channels.
Data shows that these kinds of advisories are becoming more routine, partially due to more frequent incidents of wildfires and other factors.
Recommendations from State Agencies
According to state officials, there are specific things that New Yorkers can do to save energy and reduce pollution, which will be good for the air around them.
Here are some of these practical tips:
- Using mass transit and public transportation
- Carpooling or combining car trips
- Turning off unnecessary lights and power consuming appliances
- Finding alternatives to air conditioning which uses a lot of electricity
- Buy more energy, efficient appliances, and set them for reduced consumption
- Eliminate outdoor burning
Each of these things will have its own impact on the outdoor environment. The hope is that as residents pursue these goals together, they’ll see a reduction in haze or smog, and get noticeably cleaner air.
However, as the health experts mention, you can’t see ground-level ozone the same way you see the ultra-fine particulate called PM 2.5 that is also a potential lung irritant.
So what does ozone do to you?
The U.S. EPA maintains resources showing some of the potential effects of ozone on human health, showing how the chemical compound can cause coughing and a sore or scratchy throat, or make it hard to take deep breaths. It can damage the airways, officials explain, and decrease the body’s guards against infection. It can aggravate chronic conditions like asthma, emphysema, and bronchitis.
All of this means most people who know about the risks take ozone exposure fairly seriously.
Taking Control of Your Indoor Air
Hopefully, some of these outdoor air problems will improve as people work toward progress in cleaning up the environment. Meanwhile, though, there are things that you can do about the air quality inside your home.
The first step is to use an air monitor to see what kinds of contaminants are lurking in your indoor air. Then an air purifier will cleanse the air of pollution, likely helping you to breathe easier each day.
US Air Purifiers LLC can help you to cleanse your indoor air, and get a better result with modern technology that fights air pollution where it lives- and where you live, too! Make an investment in your health and the health of your family, to breathe easier all day and all night.