{"id":650475,"date":"2026-05-18T14:37:21","date_gmt":"2026-05-18T14:37:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/650475\/"},"modified":"2026-05-18T14:37:21","modified_gmt":"2026-05-18T14:37:21","slug":"thousands-in-new-york-maryland-california-to-stay-inside-over-air-quality","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/650475\/","title":{"rendered":"Thousands in New York, Maryland, California To Stay Inside Over Air Quality"},"content":{"rendered":"

Air quality alerts have been issued across parts of New York, Maryland and Southern California, as the National Weather Service (NWS) warns that pollution levels could pose health risks\u2014especially for vulnerable groups\u2014through Monday, and advises those affected to stay inside.<\/p>\n

Where Air Quality Is Impacted\"Map<\/p>\n

In the northeast, the New York<\/a> State Department of Environmental Conservation has issued an air quality health advisory covering:<\/p>\n

New York City (all five boroughs: Manhattan, Bronx, Brooklyn, Queens, Staten Island)Westchester CountyRockland County<\/p>\n

The alert is in effect from mid-Monday morning until Monday night, with ozone levels expected to push the Air Quality Index (AQI) above 100.<\/p>\n

The AQI<\/a> is a scale used to show how polluted the air is:<\/p>\n

0\u201350 = Good51\u2013100 = Moderate101\u2013150 = Unhealthy for sensitive groups\"Map<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, in Maryland<\/a>, a “Code Orange Air Quality Alert” has been issued for Monday across multiple regions, including:<\/p>\n

Baltimore metro areaAnne Arundel CountyNortheast Maryland (Cecil and Harford counties)\"Map<\/p>\n

On the West Coast, a separate air quality alert is in place for Southern California\u2019s<\/a> Coachella Valley and San Gorgonio Pass, where windblown dust is driving dangerous levels of particle pollution through Monday morning.<\/p>\n

Why Air Quality Is Poor<\/p>\n

The causes of poor air quality vary by region:<\/p>\n

Northeast and Maryland: Elevated levels of ground-level ozone, a pollutant formed when sunlight reacts with emissions from vehicles, power plants and industrial sources.Southern California: High concentrations of fine particle pollution caused by windblown dust and dry conditions.<\/p>\n

Both ozone and particle pollution<\/a> can worsen during warm, sunny or windy weather\u2014conditions that are common in late spring.<\/p>\n

Why Poor Air Quality Matters<\/p>\n

Air pollution<\/a> is linked to a range of health issues because it can irritate the lungs and enter the bloodstream.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Key risks include:<\/p>\n

Reduced lung functionWorsening asthma and bronchitisIncreased risk of heart attacks and strokesEye, nose, and throat irritation<\/p>\n

Fine particles of pollution are particularly dangerous because they\u2019re so small they can penetrate deep into the lungs, while ozone can trigger inflammation in the airways, making breathing more difficult.<\/p>\n

Who Is Most Affected<\/p>\n

Health officials say certain groups are more vulnerable to air pollution:<\/p>\n

Children, whose lungs are still developingOlder adults, who may have weaker immune systemsPeople with asthma, heart disease or other lung conditionsOutdoor workers and those who spend long periods outside<\/p>\n

These groups are more susceptible because their bodies are either less able to filter pollutants or are already under strain.<\/p>\n

What People Should Do<\/p>\n

The NWS<\/a> is urging residents in affected areas to take precautions, particularly during peak pollution hours, which are usually in the afternoon and early evening because of sunlight, heat and traffic, which drives ground-level ozone pollution.\u00a0<\/p>\n

To reduce exposure, residents in affected areas should:<\/p>\n

Limit strenuous outdoor activities, especially in the afternoonTake breaks and avoid prolonged exercise outsideWatch for symptoms like coughing, wheezing, or shortness of breath<\/p>\n

To improve indoor air safety:<\/p>\n

Keep windows and doors closedUse air conditioning or air purifiers if availableAvoid indoor pollution sources (candles, smoking, grilling)<\/p>\n

To help reduce pollution overall:<\/p>\n

Carpool, use public transportation, or reduce drivingAvoid using gas-powered equipment when possibleKey Takeaway<\/p>\n

With ozone and dust pollution pushing air quality to unhealthy levels in multiple regions, officials warn that even short-term exposure can have real health impacts.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Residents\u2014especially those in high-risk groups\u2014are advised to stay informed, limit outdoor activity, and take steps to protect indoor air quality.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Air quality alerts have been issued across parts of New York, Maryland and Southern California, as the National…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":650476,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[47],"tags":[11455,6395,6396,40223,10244,2356,192,279947,8640,24030,2005,23757,20200,79],"class_list":["post-650475","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-environment","tag-air-pollution","tag-air-quality","tag-air-quality-alert","tag-air-quality-index","tag-aqi","tag-california","tag-environment","tag-fine-particle-pollution","tag-maryland","tag-national-weather-service","tag-new-york","tag-nws","tag-pollution","tag-science"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/650475","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=650475"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/650475\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/650476"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=650475"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=650475"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=650475"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}