Air Quality and Lung Health in the Bronx
Common air pollutants can cause dangerous health effects. Air pollution triggers asthma episodes, sends people to hospitals, affects children’s lung development, and can even be deadly. Someone in every family is likely to be at increased risk from air pollution.
Follow these tips to understand poor air quality and protect your health.
Learn about the two main types of air pollution
Check the air quality in your area
Air pollution can harm anyone, but it can be especially dangerous for many people, including children and teens, people with asthma and other lung diseases, anyone over 65, people who have diabetes or cardiovascular disease or who are pregnant. Being aware of when the air quality is bad gives you the chance to take steps to protect your health. To see your local air quality visit AirNow.gov.
You can also download the AirNow Mobile App to easily check your air quality each day.
How can I protect myself or a loved one?
If you live with a lung disease (like asthma or COPD) or care for someone with a lung disease, it’s especially important to take extra precautions when the air quality is poor. Start by understanding which days you need to take additional steps: Download information on Orange Air Quality Days (PDF). Then follow the guidance below for your condition.
- Reducing the Lung Health Burden of the Climate Crisis
Download the project flyer to learn more about this intervention. - Find out how you can get involved with Reducing the Lung Health Burden of the Climate Crisis.
- Share your story to highlight the importance of cleaning up air pollution.
- Bronx County Air Quality
Learn about the air quality in the Bronx and ways to prepare for unhealthy air days. - See how the Bronx’s air quality stacks up in our yearly State of the Air report.
Register to receive emergency alerts from Notify NYC, including when air quality is poor.
Page last updated: June 1, 2026
