La pollution de l’air de New York parmi les pires du monde alors que la fumée des feux de forêt du Canada enveloppe le nord-est | CNN

New York City has topped the list of the world’s worst air pollution due to smoke from over 100 wildfires burning in Quebec. The smoke has periodically engulfed the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic for over a week, raising concerns over the harms of persistent poor air quality. New York City’s air quality index was above 200 at one point on Tuesday night, a level that is « very unhealthy, » according to IQair. Later that night, New York City had the second-worst levels of air pollution in the world after New Delhi, India, IQair reported.

Wildfire smoke contains very tiny particulate matter, or PM2.5, which is the tiniest pollutant yet also the most dangerous. When inhaled, it can travel deep into lung tissue and enter the bloodstream. It comes from sources like the combustion of fossil fuels, dust storms, and wildfires, and has been linked to a number of health problems including asthma, heart disease, and other respiratory illnesses. Millions of people die each year from air pollution-related health issues. In 2016, around 4.2 million premature deaths were associated with fine particulate matter, according to the World Health Organization.

As a result, at least 10 school districts in central New York state canceled outdoor activities and events on Tuesday. Those activities include academic, athletic, and extracurricular events, while outdoor recess and gym classes were also canceled, school district announcements said. Air quality alerts were in effect across parts of the Northeast and the Midwest on Tuesday as wildfire smoke spread west into Detroit and Chicago. Human-caused climate change has exacerbated the hot and dry conditions that allow wildfires to ignite and grow.

Keywords: New York City, air pollution, wildfires, PM2.5, health problems, air quality alerts, climate change.