Air quality warning issued in New York

Poor air quality in five New York counties has prompted meteorologists to issue a warning.

Environmental officials have cautioned citizens of several lower Hudson Valley counties that pollution could be reaching high enough levels to damage public health, the Associated Press reported.

Those people living in Sullivan, Ulster, Dutchess, Putnam, and Orange counties who have respiratory disease or who exercise outside or engage in hard physical labour - and especially children - will be particularly at risk from the contaminated air.

Vulnerable groups are advised to limit their activity when ozone reaches unhealthily high levels, usually in the afternoon and early evening.

The decrease in air quality is thought to be due to the combined effect of the summer heat, exhaust gases and power plant emissions.

In related news, activist organisation ClientEarth recently called on the UK government to not delay in complying with European air quality standards in London ahead of the 2012 Olympics.

Written by Lauren Steadman