Dr. James McDonald, Commissioner of the New York State Department of Health, assuaged fears of long-term health effects from last week’s air pollution caused by Canadian wildfires.
During his visit to Rochester on Tuesday, Dr. McDonald clarified that the poor air quality was a result of a sudden shift in the jet stream and was largely a localized phenomenon, varying in severity across different parts of the state.
While there was a slight rise in hospital emergency room visits, particularly among individuals with pre-existing lung conditions, the uptick was not significant nor life-threatening, WHEC-TV reported.
He further added that the recent event was a short, time-limited exposure, and the state was now returning to its usual clean air quality.
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