Climate Changed
The Heat Wave Sweeping the East Coast Comes With a Side of Smog
- Peaks in afternoon and early evening: air pollution expert
- People encouraged to limit strenuous outdoor activity
People walk with new house fans at Coney Island on June 13.
Photographer: Spencer Platt/Getty ImagesThis article is for subscribers only.
The heat wave that’s gripped the east coast over the past few days is also making it harder to breathe.
The culprit is a dangerous mix of diesel exhaust, paint fumes and trees, baked by the heat to create a blanket of ozone. Children, the elderly, and people with heart conditions or asthma are most at risk. That’s spurred public agencies from New Jersey to Massachusetts to issue air quality alerts.