“Whether it’s me, I must get out”: The salesman is having bad air

Once again, the city’s health and emergency management departments have issued an advisory because of the wildfires in Canada. The city’s air quality index has once again reached harmful levels: This Monday it reached 120 when the number considered healthy was 50.

“Sometimes I wear a mask, but not all the time because I’m here with a mask on, because the heat is more depressing,” said Edith Gonzalez, a street vendor.

The alert was directed in particular to high-risk groups such as children, the elderly, pregnant women and people with heart or respiratory problems.

They were advised to avoid being outside for long periods of time and to use masks such as N95, which have a good ability to filter out harmful particles.

This, along with temperatures over 90 degrees Fahrenheit—with humidity making it seem close to 100—affects many, especially those who work outdoors. In addition, it has an impact on their business.

said Isabel Rincon, another street dealer. “Yes, of course we had to, for example, before we came early and now later, for the same reason, it is very humid and very hot.”

“If I don’t go out, how am I going to feed my family, but it has become so because of the fires that have been in Canada and that is how I go out, whatever I am, I have to go out,” said Jose Felix Martinez, who is also a street vendor

Fire smoke particles are small enough to reach the lungs, causing coughing and eye irritation in the short term, and heart or respiratory problems in the long term.

That’s why when the air quality index reaches or exceeds 150, all New Yorkers must take preventive measures, not just the high-risk groups.

To keep up to date, you can check out the website of NYC.gov/notifynyc Where the state says that throughout the summer we will see these changes in air quality.