Community Corner

Ossining Heat Wave Can Bring Bad Air

With temperatures reaching the 90s in Ossining this week, the American Lung Association is advising residents about unhealthy air quality.

“Air pollution threatens the health of millions in the Northeast alone," said Jeff Seyler, President & CEO of the American Lung Association of the Northeast. "With these increased temperatures comes the increased threat of hazardous levels of ozone pollution.” 

The National Weather Service predicts that temperatures will hit 89 degrees Thursday afternoon. Temperatures will hang around in the low 90s on Friday, a day that will be "patchy and foggy" and on Saturday, while a chance of thunderstorms is expected to cool things down on Sunday.   

Click here Ossining’s weather forecast. 

The American Lung Association is warning residents that they could be at risk of experiencing increases in ground ozone levels. 

The Lung Association’s State of the Air 2013 report state that more than 8.6 million people in the Northeast are exposed to dangerous levels of ozone or particle pollution, which are the two most widespread air pollutants.   

"High levels of air pollution can make people sick and send people to the hospital,” said Dr. E Neil Schachter, Professor of Medicine Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City. 

“That’s why during the upcoming summer months all of us, especially people with lung disease, should pay particular attention to ozone levels and follow the recommendations when air quality alerts are issued.  Being diligent and taking precaution can save a person a trip to the emergency room.” 

The American Lung Association’s State of the Air Smartphone application allows you to monitor ozone and particle pollutions levels and offers notifications when levels are unhealthy. 

Download the app here: www.lung.org/stateoftheairapp 

The American Lung Association says that vehicles emissions are the leading cause of air pollution in New York. Ozone is created with sunlight mixes with vehicle and other pollution and can cause wheezing, coughing, asthma and even premature death. 

“This year, EPA has an opportunity to set stricter standards on tailpipe emissions and to mandate cleaner burning gasoline,” said Michael Seilback, Vice President of Public Policy & Communications at the American Lung Association of the Northeast. “It is important for New Yorkers to let EPA know that these standards, which are equivalent to taking 33 million cars off the road, are vital to protecting public health. Introducing these new parameters would one cost about a penny per gallon.” 

You can help keep the air and yourself healthy by following these tips: 
 

  • Support the association’s Healthy Air Agenda by visitingwww.fightingforair.org and tell the EPA you want cleaner gasoline and vehicle standards. You can also ask your congress members to protect the Clear Air Act.   
  • Drive less by walking, biking, carpooling or using public transit more  
  • Don’t burn wood or trash   
  • Ask you school district to use clean buses   
  • Don’t exercise on high pollution days or near freeways    


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