'Unhealthy' air due to leave area after hitting peak, with possible return Saturday

The unhealthy air from a Canadian wildfire should subside on Friday after hitting its peak across New York and Long Island. But it's due to return on Saturday, state officials said.

New York State Department of Environmental Protection Commissioner Amanda Lefton said a weather front will send the plume of air south on Friday.

"We're not completely out of the woods," Lefton said at a Thursday news briefing. "We should expect to still have some air quality challenges [Friday]. And unfortunately, on Saturday, we do expect that there might be some recirculation and a return of smoke."

Thursday's heat and poor quality air put Long Islanders at a "significant combination of risk," New York State Health Commissioner James McDonald said during the briefing.

"Everyone is at risk today," McDonald said Thursday, adding that some, with underlying conditions such as asthma and heart disease, are more vulnerable than others. "Today is not the day to go out running."

Wildfire smoke contains particle pollution — a combination of solid particles and liquid droplets. Some are tiny and can easily be inhaled into your lungs and enter your bloodstream, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency which regulates the pollutants.

Breathing in unhealthy levels of particle matter can increase the risk of health problems.

McDonald cautioned that older adults, children and those predisposed to respiratory problems should remain indoors to avoid the effect of the airborne particulates generated by the wildfires. For anyone going outdoors Thursday, he recommended using an N95 mask.

"There's all these particles in the air that are very small," he said. "When you inhale, these particles are getting deep into your lungs."

It can also put an "extra hard load" on your heart increasing the possibility of a heart attack.

Officials encouraged New Yorkers who have to be outside to wear N95-style masks that were distributed for free at transit hubs including Penn Station, Grand Central Terminal and the Port Authority Bus Terminal.

George Gorman, state parks regional director for Long Island, said the parks and beaches remained open for the day.

Long Islanders were mindful of the warnings as they ventured outside on Thursday afternoon. But not all of them opted to wear masks.

Wendy Moran of Seaford donned a mask for her walk through Heckscher Park. The 61-year-old teacher said she has congestive heart failure

"I worry about the environment. What is it doing to the water? What is it doing to the plants, the animals? " Moran said. " It's not just human beings, but everything else that we appreciate, especially here on Long Island."

Mindi Reich-Shapiro, 68, admitted she should have worn as mask for her walk through the park.

"I also have vestiges of bronchial asthma, so walking in weather like this, I probably should be wearing a mask," said Reich-Shapiro of Jericho. "But this is the second or third summer in a row where like the fires have been so bad that it's come down and affected New York."

She was, however, using the long-dormant air purifier in her home.

Ellyssa Smith of Coram said she noticed the difference in the air as she enjoyed the rides at Adventureland in Farmingdale.

"I felt like it was a little heavy," Smith, 24, said. "(You) definitely can notice it, especially when your adrenaline's rushing and you're trying to breathe on these rides."

Smith had booked the day in advance and decided to go when she saw the park was open.

"We didn't know if they were going to close down the park," she said. "But we were like, 'All right, they're open, so I guess it's safe.'"

Smith decided against wearing a mask because she thought it would make breathing even more difficult in the hot and sticky weather.

State officials urged New Yorkers to follow the U.S. government's air quality map website, airnow.gov for updates about air quality in their neighborhoods. People can get real time notifications about air quality by texting their county or borough name to 333111.

Newsday's Ava Shea and Nora Toscano contributed to this story.