The state Department of Environmental Conservation has issued an air quality advisory from midnight Tuesday to midnight Wednesday across the greater Cortland area because of Canadian wildfires.
Expect the air quality index to top 100 for fine particulates. The DEC recommends people consider limiting strenuous outdoor activity. People particularly sensitive to elevated pollutants in the air, the very young and peole with respiratory problems such as asthma or heart disease may want to take particular care.
High quality masks, such as N95 and KN95 masks, can be worn outdoors to reduce the inhalation of fine particles from the air, reports Tompkins County Whole Health. Cloth masks and surgical masks are not effective at reducing inhalation of pollutants.
Masks are available to the general public, free of cost, and can be picked up at a variety of locations throughout the county, including from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the Whole Health office located at 55 Brown Road, Ithaca.
“It is out of an abundance of caution that we remind the community of the steps to take when the air quality is poor,” said Whole Health Commissioner Frank Kruppa. “Wear a high-quality mask when outdoors, and limit time spent outdoors, especially if you are very young, are pregnant, are an older adult, or have pre-existing respiratory problems.”
For additional information, please visit the NYS DEC website at: https://on.ny.gov/nyaqi or call the Air Quality Hotline at: 800-535-1345. Information about fine particulates and health is available at health.ny.gov/environmental/outdoors/air/smoke_from_fire.htm.
