People ride bicycles at 6th Avenue as haze and smoke caused by wildfires in Canada blanket New York City, New York, U.S., June 7, 2023. REUTERS/Andrew Kelly
New York City’s air pollution was ranked worst in the world after smoke from Canadian wildfires engulfed the city on Tuesday and Wednesday (Picture: REUTERS)

New York City’s air pollution was ranked worst in the world on Monday after smoke from Canadian wildfires filled the skies in cities across the east coast.

Forest fires burning in northern Quebec have blanketed the northeastern coast of North America in smoke, putting millions under air quality warnings from Toronto, Ontario to Baltimore, Maryland.

On Wednesday, New York City emerged as an epicenter of the smog as city officials advised residents to stay home and wear masks while outdoors.

‘We’ve been monitoring this for well over a week since the fires started in eastern Canada, and I would say over the last 24 hours it has gotten significantly worse,’ New York Governor Kathy Hochul said.

Traffic moves along West Street past One World Trade Center, Wednesday, June 7, 2023, in New York, amidst smokey haze from wildfires in Canada. Smoke from Canadian wildfires poured into the U.S. East Coast and Midwest on Wednesday, covering the capitals of both nations in an unhealthy haze, holding up flights at major airports and prompting people to fish out pandemic-era face masks. (AP Photo/Andy Bao)
A view of One World Trade Center on Wednesday morning (Picture: AP)
People walk in Central Park as smoke from wildfires in Canada cause hazy conditions in New York City on June 7, 2023. Smoke from Canada's wildfires has engulfed the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic regions of the US, raising concerns over the harms of persistent poor air quality. (Photo by TIMOTHY A. CLARY / AFP) (Photo by TIMOTHY A. CLARY/AFP via Getty Images)
New Yorkers walk through Central Park on Wednesday morning (Picture: TIMOTHY A. CLARY/AFP via Getty Images)

According to online tracker IQAir.com, New York City is averaging about 353 µg/m³ of fine particulate matter, or PM2.5.

This put the city far ahead of other cities across the globe suffering from air pollution. The next worst cities, Delhi, India and Dubai, UAE, had an air quality index of 168 PM2.5 on Wednesday.

On a typical day, the New York City’s air quality is usually under 50 PM2.5, which is considered ‘good’ by the air quality index.

‘The index hit 400 in parts of our state, that’s an 800% increase,’ Governor Hochul said.

The air quality in New York was considered ‘unhealthy’ on Tuesday, and moved into ‘hazardous’ quality by Wednesday afternoon.

The city declared an air quality health emergency, which was extended through Wednesday night at 11.59pm.

‘If you’re a New Yorker with heart or breathing issues, be careful when you’re outdoors today,’ New York City Mayor Eric Adams said.

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JUNE 7: Smoky haze from wildfires in Canada blankets a neighborhood on June 7, 2023 in the Bronx borough of New York City. New York topped the list of most polluted major cities in the world on Tuesday night, as smoke from the fires continues to blanket the East Coast. (Photo by David Dee Delgado/Getty Images)
Wildfire smoke engulfs a train station in the Bronx (Picture: David Dee Delgado/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY - JUNE 7: A general view of hazy conditions resulting from Canadian wildfires at Yankee Stadium before the game between the Chicago White Sox and the New York Yankees on June 7, 2023, in New York, New York. (Photo by New York Yankees/Getty Images)
Smoke blankets an empty Yankee Stadium in the Bronx (Picture: New York Yankees/Getty Images)

The mayor also asked New Yorkers to stay inside if possible and wear a mask while outside. Additionally, all outdoor activities at New York City public schools were cancelled on Wednesday.

Health officials also warned against strenuous work and exercise outdoors while the health emergency remains in place.

‘The things you would expect to see are more asthma attacks, more heart attacks, people coming in with chest pain due to not sufficient oxygen,’ said Dr Mitchell Katz, the CEO of NYC Health + Hospitals, at a press conference with Mayor Adams.

‘The bottom line is this – if you can stay indoors, stay indoors,’ Governor Hochul said.

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