Outdoor Air and Health

When Outdoor Air is Unhealthy

• Spend more time indoors. This is especially important for at-risk groups (“sensitive groups”), like children and teenagers, older adults, people with respiratory or heart problems, pregnant people, and those who exercise or work outdoors.
• If it gets hot inside, cool off with air conditioning if you can. Find a place to get cool.
• People who must spend time outdoors should take frequent breaks and adjust work or exercise schedules for when air conditions improve.
• Schools, childcare and adult care facilities, employers and activities programs should plan for more indoor activities or reduce outdoor activities when air quality is unhealthy.
• People with health symptoms should contact their health care provider.

Follow Air Quality Alerts

New York State alerts the public when the level of certain outdoor air pollutants is expected to be unhealthy. An Air Quality Alert is issued the day before or the same day for the region of the state affected. These alerts are often broadcast on the news or weather station. The alerts will define who is at risk or the “sensitive groups” based on the pollutant and actions you should take to reduce exposure to outdoor air pollutants. 

Air Quality Alerts will tell you:

• The pollutant of concern
• The AQI or rating of air quality from good to hazardous
• Who is at risk
• Actions to protect health when outdoor air is unhealthy

AQI Basics for Ozone and Particle Pollution

Air Quality Index	Conditions	Description of Air Quality
Green: 0 to 50 Good	Good	It's a great day to be outside.
Yellow: 51 to 100	Moderate	Air quality is acceptable. However, there may be a risk for some people, particularly those who are unusually sensitive to air pollution.
Orange: 101 to 150	Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups	Members of sensitive groups may experience health effects. The general public is less likely to be affected.
Red: 151 to 200	Unhealthy for Everyone	Some members of the general public may experience health effects; members of sensitive groups may experience more serious health effects.
Purple: 201 to 300	Very Unhealthy	Health alert: The risk of health effects is increased for everyone.
Maroon: 301-500	Hazardous	Health warning of emergency conditions: everyone is more likely to be affected.

Sign up for EnviroFlash to be notified of Air Quality Alerts for your area. Or visit the New York State Air Quality Index (AQI) or airnow.gov.

In New York State, the most common Air Quality Alerts are for ozone and particle pollution.

• Ozone is one of the main air pollutants in "smog" that is produced when sunlight mixes with air contaminants from vehicle exhaust and other sources. Ozone levels can become unhealthy on hot, sunny days, frequently in the afternoons or evenings. Learn more about who's at risk and what to do when ozone levels are unhealthy.
• Particle pollution is fine particles in the air from outdoor sources like vehicle exhaust, burning wood, gas and other fuels, and forest and grass fires. Particulate pollution can travel long distances from its source; wildfires, for example, can raise fine particle levels hundreds of miles from the event. Learn more about who's at risk and what to do when particle pollution levels are unhealthy.

Recommendations for Workers

• Long work schedules and the physical demands of work performed outdoors can affect a worker’s health when air quality is unhealthy.
• Take frequent breaks and talk to your employer about adjusting your work until air quality improves. Follow advice from NIOSH.

Recommendations for Schools and Child Care Providers

• Continue to monitor air quality at airnow.gov.
• Consider implementing an Air Quality Flag Program where each day your organization raises a flag when the air is unhealthy. On these days you can use this information to adjust outdoor activities.
• New York State recommends that schools and child care providers suspend outdoor activities and field trips when air quality is unhealthy.
• When air quality is good, resume normal activities.

More Information