Breathing NYC’s smoky air is equal to puffing 10 whole cigarettes, expert warns

Taking a breath outside is like taking a puff. Spending just three hours breathing the smoke-and-toxin-riddled Big Apple air on Thursday is equivalent to smoking 2.5 cigarettes, an expert warned. New Yorkers are breathing “unhealthy” levels of air thanks to the wildfire smoke funneling down from Canada and the Great Lakes — prompting officials to urge residents to remain indoors. New Yorkers are breathing “unhealthy” air, according to state safety reports. REUTERS “It’s reasonable to say you’re smoking 10 cigarettes today by breathing the air in New York City,” Michael Petroni, a pollution expert and former EPA employee, told The Post about spending a full day outside. The five boroughs have been under an Air Quality Health Advisory since Wednesday, with the Air Quality Index (AQI) hoverin