Chelsea Triola - LongIsland.com Columnist

Weather Alert  

AIR QUALITY ALERT IN EFFECT FROM 11 AM TO 11 PM EDT THURSDAY The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation has issued an Air Quality Health Advisory for the following counties... Richmond...Kings...Queens...New York...Bronx... Westchester...Rockland...Nassau...Suffolk. from 11 AM to 11 PM EDT Thursday. Air quality levels in outdoor air are predicted to be greater than an Air Quality Index value of 100 for the pollutant of Ground Level Ozone . The Air Quality Index...or AQI...was created as an easy way to correlate levels of different pollutants to one scale. The higher the AQI value...the greater the health concern. When pollution levels are elevated...the New York State Department of Health recommends that individuals consider limiting strenuous outdoor physical activity to reduce the risk of adverse health effects. People who may be especially sensitive to the effects of elevated levels of pollutants include the very young...and those with preexisting respiratory problems such as asthma or heart disease. Those with symptoms should consider consulting their personal physician. A toll free air quality hotline has been established so New York residents can stay informed on the air quality situation. The toll free number is 1 800 5 3 5, 1 3 4 5.

Chelsea attended St. Joseph's College with a Major in English and a concentration in Journalism, and plans on returning to her studies in the near future. Writing is one of her main passions in life – she finds it therapeutic and calming to put pen to paper. Her ultimate goal is to one day become a full time writer, contributing to publications on numerous media platforms. Chelsea can be reached at Chelsea.Triola@longisland.com.