Even more startling is that these levels eclipsed those recorded in San Francisco on Nov. 16, 2018, during the peak of the Northern California wildfires.
Threat to Public Health – Invisible yet Deadly
These minuscule particles, nearly 30 times smaller than the width of a human hair, are potent enough to infiltrate the lungs and bloodstream.
The EPA considers an average of thirty-five micrograms of these particles per cubic meter of air as safe for a day. However, the NYC air quality on Wednesday averaged 377 at seven stations across the city – nearly 11 times that threshold.
Subway System Suffers from Elevated Pollution Levels
Contrary to common belief, the NYC subway system is not a refuge from this poor air quality.
NYU researchers Antonio Saporito and David Luglio conducted a spot-check in lower Manhattan, and found air quality within the subway system alarmingly worse than above ground. At the Broadway-Lafayette station, the air particle count was 660 – a staggering 5,400% increase from typical city levels.
