Air Quality Guidance: Fire, Smoke, and High Ozone

Air quality can be affected by everyday activities like driving cars and trucks, grilling in restaurants, and heating buildings. Occasionally, events like wildfires, building fires, fireworks, and extreme weather can cause spikes in air pollution. Smoke from wildfires and other sources can increase particle pollution, while hotter weather – made worse by climate change – can lead to higher ozone levels.

Poor air quality affects everyone, but some people are more sensitive to poor air than others, including:

• People with heart or lung conditions, such as asthma or COPD
• People with weakened immune systems
• Adults aged 65 years or older
• Pregnant people
• Infants and children with health conditions
• People with social vulnerabilities, such as limited access to transportation or lack of access to safe housing or health care

Understanding Air Quality Levels

The Air Quality Index (AQI) tells you how clean or polluted the outdoor air is. You can check the current AQI in your area by visiting AirNow. The AQI value can help you decide if it is safe to do outdoor activities based on pollution levels:

AQI value: 0 to 50

• Level of health concern: Low
• This is a great day to be active outside.

AQI value: 51 to 100

• Level of health concern: Moderate
• This is a good day to be active outside. Sensitive people may experience increased symptoms and should be aware and follow routine precautions to manage existing conditions.

AQI value: 101 to 150

• Level of health concern: Unhealthy for sensitive groups
• The risk of air quality-related health impacts from outdoor activities remains low for healthy people. If your eyes are watering, your throat is sore, you have a headache, or you are out of breath or coughing during outdoor activities, take a break and go indoors. Sensitive people should follow management plans for their health conditions, be alert for any symptoms during outdoor activities, and avoid strenuous and prolonged (more than one hour) outdoor activities.

AQI value: 151 to 200

• Level of health concern: Unhealthy
• All New Yorkers should limit strenuous and prolonged (more than one hour) outdoor activities. Sensitive people should avoid unnecessary outdoor activities. Consider rescheduling or moving indoors any outdoor event expected to last more than one hour.

AQI value: 201 to 300

• Level of health concern: Very unhealthy
• Reschedule or move all unnecessary activities indoors. All New Yorkers should avoid strenuous and prolonged (more than one hour) outdoor activities.

AQI value: 301 and higher

• Level of health concern: Hazardous
• All New Yorkers should avoid unnecessary outdoor activities.

Stay Safe During Poor Air Quality

When it is hot or the air outside is at unhealthy levels, use this tool for tips on staying safe.

Follow the five steps below on days when air quality is poor. If you or someone in your family takes certain medications or is sensitive to air pollution, follow your health care provider’s advice to stay safe.

1. Limit time outdoors
• Adjust activities based on your individual level of risk.
• Avoid strenuous activities, like exercising or heavy physical work.
• If you must go outside, wear a well-fitting N95 or KN95 mask. Take frequent breaks and adjust your work or exercise schedule for when air quality improves. See guidance for mask use (PDF).


2. Stay indoors
• Keep windows and doors closed if temperatures allow.
• Use an air conditioner if the temperature outdoors is higher than 85 degrees Fahrenheit.
• Keep the fresh air intake closed (set to “recirculate mode”).
• Use a MERV-13 or higher-rated air filter if possible. Make sure your air conditioner can handle a high MERV filter before installing.
• If you do not have an air conditioner, go to a cool indoor space like a library, grocery store, public building, or visit a friend or family who has air conditioning.
• If you do not have an air conditioner and can’t leave your home, do not close your windows when the temperature is hotter indoors than outside. Very hot weather can be more dangerous than poor air quality. Contact your healthcare provider if you experience health effects from poor air quality.
• Avoid activities that worsen indoor air, such as frying, smoking, or burning candles.
• Use a portable air cleaner (non-ozone producing) to create a cleaner air room in the home. Make sure to choose a device that’s the right size for the space in which it will be used.
• Check and clean or replace air filters regularly.
• For information on temporary do-it-yourself (DIY) air cleaners, see EPA’s page on DIY air cleaners for wildfire smoke.


3. Monitor air quality
• Stay informed through NYC alerts, news reports, and the AirNow website or app.
• Use an air conditioner if the temperature outdoors is higher than 85 degrees Fahrenheit.


4. Check on family, friends, and neighbors
• Ensure those at higher risk for health problems are safe.


5. Know when to get help
• If you or someone you’re caring for has trouble breathing or has chest pain, get medical attention immediately.
• Contact your doctor if existing health conditions worsen. You do not need to see your doctor for minor irritation.

Special Considerations