Air Mail: News About NY Air Quality - February

This Week’s Topics:

• Love Your Air and Your Heart
• Presidents’ Day
• AQI Alerts for Respiratory Health

Love Your Air and Your Heart

February isn’t just for Valentine’s Day, it’s also American Heart Month. Why not be kind to your heart by reducing the amount of air pollution you inhale? Much of the air pollution we breathe comes from burning fuels to create energy to power vehicles or provide electricity for homes.

Scientific studies have shown that air pollution can cause adverse cardiovascular health effects from both short-term and long-term exposure. Short-term exposure to air pollutants, such as being exposed to smoke from burning yard debris, can cause inflammation of the heart. Breathing air pollution every day for many years could cause a buildup of plaque in the arteries called atherosclerosis.

What can you do?

• You can reduce your air pollution footprint by following these easy tips to keep the air clean.
• To keep your heart healthy, limit your exposure to air pollution by checking the Air Quality Index (AQI) for your area. This is especially important when exercising or enjoying the outdoors.

Breathe easier and show love for your heart every day knowing that you are doing your part to help reduce air pollution and decrease harmful exposure for you and your loved ones.

Photo credit: Santosh Mahat, NYSDEC Division of Air Resources, "Love is in the air" over the Robert F. Kennedy Bridge, Astoria, NY.

Presidents’ Day

In celebration of Presidents’ Day (February 19th), the Division of Air Resources would like to recognize some of our former presidents for their work protecting the environment and the air we breathe.

Also known as the Father of Conservation, Teddy Roosevelt created the US Forestry Service to battle deforestation. He established five national parks and signed the Antiquities Act into law, enabling future presidents to create historic landmarks and preserve land.

Spurred on by the Great Depression and the Dust Bowl, Franklin D. Roosevelt created the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) as part of his New Deal.  The CCC planted millions of trees and opened and improved parks and trails.

Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Clean Air Act into Law in 1963, which provided funding for air pollution research and control programs. His wife, Lady Bird Johnson, promoted parks and worked to protect and plant millions of wildflowers. 

Twenty million people took to the streets in 1970 for the Nation’s first Earth Day.  Richard Nixon responded by signing the Clean Air Act of 1970 into law, which regulated emissions from industry and vehicles. He also established the EPA via executive order later that year. During his time in office, President Nixon signed a multitude of environmental laws, from the Toxic Substances Control Act, to the Endangered Species Act, and the Safe Drinking Water Act in 1974.

Jimmy Carter not only embraced renewable energy, but also had solar panels installed on the White House in 1979.  He created the Department of Energy in response to the OPEC oil embargo, and tasked the new agency with creating a national energy policy that promoted clean and alternative fuels.

George H.W. Bush signed the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990 into law. These significant amendments gave greater responsibilities and authority to the EPA. These new directives focused on acid rain producing pollution from stationary sources and expanded the program for controlling toxic air pollutants.

Many U.S. Presidents have helped establish a long legacy of environmental protection for our nation. During February, we thank them for protecting our environment today and into the future.

Stay Informed about Your Air Quality

New York’s traditional ozone season runs from May through September. DEC publishes ground-level ozone forecasts during ozone season, and particulate matter pollution forecasts year-round using a scale called the Air Quality Index (AQI). DEC sends an air quality alert when there is a high AQI value, which indicates polluted air. Individuals with pre-existing respiratory and cardiovascular conditions or individuals who exercise outdoors should take caution during an air quality alert.  Find out if an Air Quality Alert is in effect by calling the toll-free Ozone Hotline: 1-800-535-1345.

The AQI can be accessed in 3 ways:

• daily ozone and particulate matter pollution forecast
• sign up to receive Air Quality Alerts for New York State via email
• sign up to receive AQI Alerts from EnviroFlash via email for where you live (outside NYS) and download the Air Now App

We would like to know what you think. Please send your Air Mail! questions or comments to us at DAR.web@dec.ny.gov.