{
  "id": "2025-08-05-cornell-university-air-quality-advisory",
  "slug": "cornell-university-air-quality-advisory-2025-08-05",
  "institution": {
    "name": "Cornell University",
    "shortName": "Cornell",
    "state": "NY",
    "type": "private-r1",
    "alertSystemName": "CornellALERT",
    "enrollment": 25582
  },
  "incident": {
    "date": "2025-08-05",
    "type": "wildfire",
    "cleryCategory": "advisory",
    "resolution": "contained",
    "headline": "Air quality advisory for wildfire smoke unhealthy for sensitive groups and all",
    "headlinePublic": "Air quality advisory for wildfire smoke unhealthy for sensitive groups and all",
    "summary": "On August 5, 2025, Cornell [Environment, Health and Safety issued an Air Quality Advisory](https://emergency.cornell.edu/cornell-alerts/air-quality-advisory/) via the Cornell Alerts channel after regional AQI exceeded thresholds for sensitive groups and, the prior day, 150 for all individuals.",
    "outcome": "Community advised to limit strenuous outdoor exercise and reduce outdoor air exposure; further guidance promised if AQI exceeded 200.",
    "casualties": {
      "killed": 0,
      "injured": 0
    }
  },
  "alerts": [
    {
      "sequence": 1,
      "type": "initial",
      "channel": "email",
      "verbatimText": "Dear Ithaca Campus and Cornell AgriTech communities,\n\nSmoke from wildfires is impacting air quality in our region and in most areas the air quality index (AQI) is above 100, which is unhealthy for sensitive groups. Yesterday, Tompkins County Whole Health issued an advisory that our region’s air quality index (AQI) has exceeded 150, which is considered unhealthy for all individuals. It is anticipated that air quality will again be poor today, Tuesday, August 5.\n\nPeople may experience adverse health effects, particularly those with underlying health conditions such as asthma or heart disease, which may make them more sensitive to particulate air pollution. It is advised that you limit strenuous outdoor exercise and reduce your exposure to outdoor air by taking frequent breaks or remaining indoors.\n\nMore information about air quality resources and protective measures can be found at emergency.cornell.edu. If AQI levels in our region exceed 200, which is considered very unhealthy, the university will follow up with further guidance.\n\nSincerely,\n\nChristine Rogers\n\nSenior Director\n\nEnvironment, Health and Safety",
      "isVerbatimConfirmed": true,
      "sourceUrl": "https://emergency.cornell.edu/cornell-alerts/air-quality-advisory/",
      "sourceDescription": "Cornell Office of Emergency Management — Air Quality Advisory (August 5, 2025)",
      "annotations": [
        "Complete signed advisory from Senior Director of Environment, Health and Safety on the official Cornell Alerts archive."
      ],
      "characterCount": 1123,
      "timestampApprox": "August 5, 2025 (date on Cornell Alerts archive page; exact clock time not stated)"
    }
  ],
  "context": "Summer wildfire smoke again elevated Tompkins County air quality measures in early August 2025. Cornell’s [archived advisory](https://emergency.cornell.edu/cornell-alerts/air-quality-advisory/) is a community-wide administrative health notice transmitted through the Cornell Alerts channel.",
  "keyFindings": [
    "Signed EHS advisory posted on the official Cornell Alerts archive",
    "Distinguishes AQI 100 (sensitive groups) and 150 (all individuals) thresholds"
  ],
  "sources": [
    {
      "title": "Cornell Alerts — Air Quality Advisory (August 5, 2025)",
      "url": "https://emergency.cornell.edu/cornell-alerts/air-quality-advisory/",
      "type": "official-archive"
    },
    {
      "title": "Cornell Office of Emergency Management alerts index",
      "url": "https://emergency.cornell.edu/cornell-alerts/",
      "type": "official-archive"
    }
  ],
  "confidence": "high",
  "tags": [
    "air-quality",
    "wildfire-smoke",
    "cornell",
    "advisory",
    "ehs"
  ],
  "dateAdded": "2026-07-21",
  "lastUpdated": "2026-07-21",
  "addedBy": "ingestion"
}