ALBANY COUNTY — By Friday afternoon the air quality in Albany County had reached the “unhealthy” level with an index number of 158 because of particulate matter in the air caused by the wildfires in Canada.

Wildfire smoke downwind affects not just health but also wealth and mortality, according to new research from Cornell University, Nanjing University, and the University of Houston, published earlier this month.

ALBANY COUNTY — The Albany area on Thursday, June 15, along with part of the Adirondacks had “moderate” as opposed to “good” air quality, according to AirNow.gov, a website run in conjunction with the Environmental Protection Agency.

Using data reported for “respiratory symptoms” on June 8 from Emergency Medical Services response data, which is a timely early-warning source, the health department observed a statewide increase of 17.8 percent in the rates per 100,000 on Wednesday, June 7, as compared to the average of the five-day period of June 1 through 5. At the same time, for the metropolitan New York City region, the increase was 28.4 percent and for the Capital Region, it was 12.4 percent.

ALBANY COUNTY — Speaking from the University at Albany on Wednesday evening, Governor Kathy Hochul said the poor air quality throughout most of the state caused by wildfires in Quebec was “unprecedented.”

More than 100 wildfires burning in Quebec are causing hazy conditions across much of the state.

The moratorium is designed to give the town’s planning board some breathing room as it juggles multiple solar projects at once, Supervisor Russell Pokorny said. 

The town of Rensselaerville has been working to control levels of disinfection by-products in its water, which have exceeded standard minimums frequently enough that the United States Environmental Protection Agency is preparing to issue a formal notice to the town, according to water/sewer advisory committee member Ed Csukas in a report to the town board last month.

ALBANY COUNTY — Albany County this week has a “high” fire danger rating from the state’s Department of Environmental Conservation.

The DEC issued a press release on Tuesday, reminding New Yorkers about the annual statewide ban prohibiting residential brush burning that lasts from  March 16 through May 14.

ALBANY COUNTY — The Albany Pine Bush Preserve will host its annual Earth Day celebration on Saturday, April 22, from 9 a.m. to noon.