xxx | CNN Indonesia
Wednesday June 7, 2023 8:42 p.m. IWST
The Statue of Liberty in the United States is covered in smoke from wildfires coming from Canada. Photo: REUTERS/AMR ALFIKY
Jakarta, CNN Indonesia —
Air quality in New York, USA tops the list of the most polluted cities in the world, due to wildfires in Quebec, Canada.
Based on the Air Quality Index (IQair), New York's air quality reached 200 on Tuesday (6/6) evening. The figures show that the air quality is “very unhealthy”, according to the press release. CNN.
Smoke from Canadian wildfires in recent weeks has spread toward the Northeast and mid-Atlantic, raising concerns about continued poor air quality.
IQair noted that the worst air quality in the city occurred at 10:00 p.m. local time on Tuesday. At that time, New York's air quality was the second worst in the world, after New Delhi, India.
As of Tuesday morning, New York also topped the list for worst air quality. As a result, around ten schools canceled outdoor activities and a range of events such as academic activities, athletics, extracurricular activities and gymnastics classes.
On the same day, concentrations of PM2.5 in the air in New York reached 10 times the World Health Organization (WHO) standard.
PM2.5 are air particles smaller than 2.5 microns (micrometers). With such high atmospheric concentrations, New York's air can be hazardous to your health.
“If you can see or smell smoke, know that you have been exposed,” said William Baret, senior director of the American Lung Association's Air Quality Advocacy Institute.
He then said: “And it's important that you stay indoors for [kualitas polusi udara] is high, and it is very important to monitor your health and recognize the symptoms. »
Additionally, Barrett said people vulnerable to exposure to these polluting particles include children, the elderly, pregnant people, or people with respiratory problems or heart disease. Their condition will be worse if they are exposed.
These particles come from burning fossils, dust storms and forest fires. This can trigger health problems such as asthma, heart disease and other respiratory illnesses.
According to the WHO, every year people die from health problems linked to air pollution. In 2016, approximately 4.2 million premature deaths were attributed to airborne particles.
The city with the worst air quality isn't just New York. Jakarta was recorded as having a severe and unhealthy air quality index on June 15, 2022.
At that time, the air quality index in Jakarta at 09:50 WIB reached 183 US AQI with a pollutant value of 118 µg/m³.
“The concentration of PM 2.5 in Jakarta's air is currently 23.6 times higher than the WHO annual air quality guideline value,” last year's AQI report said.
(isa/dna)
“Freelance communicator. Hardcore web practitioner. Entrepreneur. Total student. Beer ninja.”
