ALBANY COUNTY — By Friday afternoon the air quality in Albany County had reached the “unhealthy” level with an index number of 158 because of particulate matter in the air caused by the wildfires in Canada.

The Environmental Protection Agency, through its AirNow.gov website, advises with this reading that people with heart or lung disease, older adults, and children and teens avoid strenuous outdoor activities, keep outdoor activities short, and consider moving physical activities indoors or rescheduling them.

Everyone else is to choose less strenuous activities, like walking instead of running, so you don’t breathe as hard, and shorten the amount of time outdoors.

The state’s commissioners for health and for environmental conservation have issued health advisories for Saturday, July 1, for the Adirondack; Upper Hudson Valley, which includes Albany County; Lower Hudson Valley, New York City Metro, and Long Island regions.

The pollutants of concern are fine particulate matter in the Adirondack, Upper and Lower Hudson Valley, New York City Metro, and Long Island regions as well as ozone in the Lower Hudson Valley region.

“As we prepare to celebrate this holiday weekend, New Yorkers should continue to check the latest air quality in their region before heading outside,” Governor Hochul said in a Friday afternoon release. “We remain committed to protecting public health and will continue to update New Yorkers to help everyone stay safe outdoors as conditions continue to change.”

The smoke plume is expected to be gradually pushed from southwest to northeast Friday night into Saturday, the release said. Current forecasts suggest elevated levels of smoke-enhanced particulate matter will be limited with temporary periods of air quality that is unhealthy for sensitive groups forecasted statewide.

For Sunday, current forecasts show some smoke will be recirculated through New York state due to smoke lingering in the Midwest and Mid-Atlantic regions. Aged smoke is likely to be pulled north-northeast ahead of an approaching cold front, leading to slightly elevated air-quality numbers.

While index levels are forecast to range from unhealthy for sensitive groups to unhealthy for all during this time, the state’s health advisories and corresponding guidelines based on 24-hour forecasts and one-hour values may exceed forecast values in these regions, with possible unhealthy or very unhealthy hourly readings.

Large fireworks displays are expected to build upon elevated levels of particulate matter near and downwind of launch sites and may be noted by the state's air monitoring devices.

“With unhealthy air over the eastern part of the state, and a summer holiday weekend upon us when many people spend time outdoors, it is important that everyone be aware of their local air quality and their personal risk,” said Health CommissionerJames McDonald in the release.

“You can monitor your air quality with your phone weather app or at airnow.gov and if your air is unhealthy,” he advised, “limit your time outdoors, limit exertion, and it's also a good idea to have a quality mask with you. New Yorkers who are especially sensitive to elevated levels of pollutants include the very young, those over 65, pregnant people and those with pre-existing conditions such as heart disease or asthma.”