A man walks his dog on June 6, 2023 in New York, the US, as haze blankets the city. Photo: VCG

New York City has topped the list of the worst air pollution in the world as smoke from a number of Canadian wildfires created a thick haze across the region’s skyline, triggering a wide discussion among netizens, with many expressing their concerns over the city’s air quality.
 
The air quality is predicted to reach ‘unhealthy’ Air Quality Index (AQI) levels on Thursday in the New York City Metro, Long Island and other regions, according to an Air Quality Health Advisory issued by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. New Yorkers also are urged to take energy saving and pollution-reducing measures.
 
New York City’s air quality rating ranked as “the worst of any city in the world” on Tuesday, according to media reports.
 
A local resident in New York, Kate, sent pictures to the Global Times on Thursday morning, which showed an orange tinged Manhattan sky caused by heavy pollution. She said she has to stay indoors to avoid being affected by the heavy smog, and people outside are wearing masks.
 
Some netizens shared similar experiences on social media. A Chinese netizen posted on Xiaohongshu that his US colleagues asked him “if the pollution in the New York City reminds him of the air pollution in Beijing years ago?” He responded that “we have much clearer air now as China has made tremendous effort in tackling pollution.”

“Flashback to 10 years ago in Beijing, taken on a sunny and a smoggy day from my study in Beijing CBD… Remarkable how much progress Beijing has made in cleaning up the air since then, Bill Bishop who co-founded Marketwatch.com tweeted on Wednesday. 

New York City’s mayor Eric Adams said in a news release late Tuesday that air quality in parts of New York City had become “very unhealthy” by 10 pm, which has risen to 218 on the Environmental Protection Agency’s Air Quality Index. By comparison, the city’s air quality has been below 50 on the index in recent years generally, according to The New York Times.
 
All New York City public schools have canceled outdoor activities, and are scheduled to be closed on Thursday and Friday, according to media reports.
 
The hazardous air quality also has impacted everyday life for residents. Jodie Comer stopped the matinee of Prima Facie because she was having difficulty breathing due to the bad air quality in New York City, the Broadwayworld reported on Wednesday. One netizen tweeted that “Good, she was right to. Stay safe out there.”