The air quality in New York City is the worst it has been since the 9/11 attacks.
New York City’s air quality has hit a new low, with the city’s air pollution index (API) hitting 955 on October 26th. The number represents an all-time high for New York and marks a significant increase from October 2018, when the API was recorded at around 500. Although no deaths have been directly attributed to poor air quality, many residents are still concerned about its impact on their health.
What is an API?
The Air Quality Index (AQI) was introduced by the Environmental Protection Agency in 1968 to help people understand how polluted their environment is. The EPA uses five categories to describe air pollution levels: good, moderate, unhealthy for sensitive groups, unhealthy and very unhealthy.
What causes poor air quality?
The main cause of New York’s poor air quality is thought to be wood burning during this year’s winter months as well as diesel exhaust fumes from construction vehicles and trucks.
