(TWN)- According to media sources, New York City saw abnormally high levels of air pollution on Tuesday night, surpassing New Delhi and Kolkata on the charts and recording an air quality index of 218 at one point.

The bad air quality levels have persisted today, with a recorded Air Quality Index (AQI) of 173, with a PM2.5 concentration of 98.3g/m3, which is 19.7 times the WHO annual air quality guideline value, according to air quality monitoring company IQair.

The ongoing wildfires in neighboring Canada, where many provinces have been battling hundreds of fires over the past month, were blamed for the poor air quality. This smoke has traveled across the border, prompting three air quality advisories from US authorities.

Because of this, Tuesday outdoor activities and festivities were postponed in at least 10 school districts in central New York state. Academic, athletic, and extracurricular activities were all postponed, in addition to gym courses and outdoor recess, according to school district announcements.

Very small particulate matter, or PM2.5, which is the smallest and most harmful pollutant, is present in wildfire smoke. It can penetrate the lungs deeply and reach the bloodstream when inhaled. Asthma, heart disease, and other respiratory disorders are just a few of the health issues it has been connected to. It comes from causes like the burning of fossil fuels, dust storms, and wildfires.

"If you're a New Yorker with heart or breathing issues, be careful when you're outside," said New York Mayor Eric Adam's office. Because smoke from Canadian wildfires is polluting our city's air, an Air Quality Health Advisory has been issued. Today, try to limit your outdoor activities to the bare necessities."

"Today's satellite image showed widespread wildfire activity, causing more smoke across Ontario and Quebec." More smoke will be driven over our region tonight and Wednesday due to a continuous northerly flow over an upper level low pressure system. This smoke will impair vision and cause a lot of haze. The smoke is expected to diminish gradually by Thursday when a front passes through," it stated.

"Because of the destructive conditions brought on by climate change, which makes life more difficult, wildfires are very much a global warming issue."