Health Alert Update: Air Quality for Tompkins at Very Unhealthy Levels
Published on July 16, 2026
(Ithaca, N.Y., July 16, 2026) – Tompkins County Whole Health (TCWH) is continuing to update the community about local air quality due to wildfires in Canada and the Western United States. As of the afternoon of July 16, the air quality in Tompkins County is “Very Unhealthy”, as defined by the Air Quality Index (AQI) scale.
The AQI is divided into six categories. Each category corresponds to a different level of health concern. Each category also has a specific color. The color makes it easy for people to quickly determine whether air quality is reaching unhealthy levels in their communities.
With Air Quality in the purple zone, everyone may experience health effects, while sensitive groups have a higher risk of serious health effects. Sensitive groups include: children and teens, older adults, pregnant people, those with lung or heart conditions, those with asthma, those who exercise or work outdoors, and those in underserved communities.
When pollution levels are elevated to “Very Unhealthy” for the general public, the New York State Department of Health recommends the following strategies to reduce risk of adverse health effects:
- Avoid physical activities outdoors.
- Move physical activities indoors or reschedule.
High-quality masks, such as N95 and KN95 masks, can be worn outdoors to reduce the inhalation of fine particles from the air. N95s are available to the public, at no cost, at our offices at 55 Brown Road (near the airport) and 201 E Green St., Ithaca NY, for pick up during office hours Monday-Friday, 8:30am-4:30pm. Masks are also available at the downtown Tompkins County Public Library during open hours. Cloth masks and surgical masks are not effective at reducing inhalation of pollutants.
Do-It-Yourself indoor air cleaners are an affordable and accessible way to protect yourself from air pollutants. DIY air cleaners are made with a box fan and a high-quality air filter. For visual graphic on how to create an indoor air cleaner, as well as additional tips on how to protect yourself indoors or outdoors during poor air quality events, visit Cornell’s Wildfire Risk Mitigation web page.
Sign up for Tompkins County SIREN (Safety & Incident Real-Time Emergency Notifications) to receive key community alerts to your phone, text or email. Sign up online at: https://tompkinscountyny.gov/siren or dial 211 (1-877-211-8667) for assistance over the phone.
For additional information, please visit our website or call the NYS DEC Air Quality Hotline at: 800-535-1345.
Tompkins County Whole Health: envisioning a future where every person in Tompkins County can achieve wellness. Find us online at: https://www.tompkinscountyny.gov/health and follow us on Facebook, Instagram or X. Sign up to receive Whole Health updates or other county announcements via email or text.
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