The Oswego County Health Department advises residents to continue following safety precautions to limit their exposure to air pollutants. The air quality health advisory issued by New York State earlier this week continues today, June 30.

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Oswego County’s air quality is “unhealthy” with an index of 166 as of 10 a.m. Ongoing air quality issues are due to wildfires still burning in Canada.

Exposure to elevated levels of fine particulate matter can cause short-term health effects such as irritation to the eyes, nose and throat, coughing, sneezing, runny nose and shortness of breath.

The health department cautions people with heart and lung disease, older adults, children and teens to take extra precautions and avoid outdoor physical activities. Those with underlying medical conditions, such as asthma, COPD and heart disease, which could be exacerbated by air pollutants, should also follow this guidance and seek medical care if needed.

Most other people may want to consider avoiding strenuous outdoor activities, keeping outdoor activities short or moving physical activities indoors or re-scheduling them. They may also want to keep windows and doors closed to protect indoor air quality and use air purifiers or air conditioners with high efficiency filtration if available.

The EPA also recommends respirators such as the KN-95 masks to help filter out smoke and ash particles from the air. The health department has a supply of masks available for pick up. Residents can come to the main entrance (Entrance B) on the west side of the building located at 70 Bunner St., Oswego between 8:30 a.m. and 4 p.m. There is a mask limit of two per person.

Pet owners are also advised to take extra precautions with their animals. Pets are especially sensitive to air pollutants, which can cause respiratory issues or exacerbate existing conditions. Pet owners should monitor their animal’s symptoms and possibly limit outdoor activities or contact their pet’s veterinarian if needed.  They can create a safe indoor environment for their pet by ensuring proper ventilation and filtration.

People can monitor Oswego County’s air quality status at https://www.airnow.gov/?city=Oswego&state=NY&country=USA.