Is it safe to exercise outside today? A pulmonologist weighs in

HEALTH

Is it safe to exercise outside today? A pulmonologist weighs in

Amanda WallaceNorthJersey.com
July 16, 2026, 12:50 p.m. ET

You might want to reschedule that Thursday afternoon run or post-work yard cleanup, according to experts, as Canadian wildfire smoke pushes New Jersey’s air quality into unhealthy levels Thursday afternoon

The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection issued an Air Quality Action Day for Bergen, Passaic, Hudson, Essex, and Union counties on Thursday, July 16. Parts of the state reached unhealthy levels as early as 7 a.m

Everyone should limit strenuous activities and the amount of time active outdoors Thursday, especially in the evening hours, the NJDEP says. Sensitive individuals, such as those with heart or lung disease, the elderly, and the young, may experience more serious health effects

Keith Brenner, chief of pulmonology at Hackensack University Medical Center, recommends skipping your outdoor workout altogether amid the poor air quality

“Everyone should be trying to prioritize being inside on days like today where that air quality is in the red zone,” Brenner said, adding that both generally healthy people and those with underlying conditions should avoid exercising outside. “It can cause cough, it can cause irritation of their throat, it can cause even possibly more serious health conditions, so I would avoid that.”

People with asthma, COPD, heart disease, or other underlying conditions could see flare-ups due to the air quality, potentially leading to hospitalization who added, “You really want to avoid that exposure, especially if it’s unneeded. Like exercise is something that can be performed inside, and you definitely want to be inside on a day like today.”

When is it safe to exercise outside?

To exercise outside, Brenner said that he would prefer the Air Quality Index to be in the green, which means that the air quality is satisfactory, and air pollution poses little or no risk

“When it’s above green, I would use caution about exercising outside,” Brenner said

Air Quality Index guidelines

The Air Quality Index, or AQI, is the measure of how healthy or unhealthy the air is

The AQI is split into six color-coded categories, each one corresponding to a different level of health concern. The higher the AQI value, the greater the level of air pollution and the greater the health concern

The AQI values range from 0 to 500. Here’s the breakdown, according to AirNow:

• 0-50 (Green): Good. The air quality poses little or no risk. It’s fine to do normal activities and keep the windows open.
• 51-100 (Yellow): Moderate. The air quality is acceptable. However, there may be a risk for some people, particularly those who are unusually sensitive to air pollution. Sensitive people should consider making outdoor activities shorter and less intense.
• 101-150(Orange): Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups. Members of sensitive groups may experience health effects. The general public is less likely to be affected. People with health risks should make outdoor activities shorter and less intense and should take more breaks. Watch for symptoms such as coughing or shortness of breath.
• 151-200 (Red): Unhealthy. The air quality can affect everyone, and people with sensitivity may experience more serious health effects. Everyone should avoid or reduce long or intense outdoor activities.
• 201-300(Purple): Very Unhealthy. The risk of health effects is increased for everyone. Sensitive groups should avoid all physical activity outdoors and everyone else should consider rescheduling or moving activities indoors.
• 301-500 (Maroon): Hazardous. Everyone is more likely to be affected. Avoid all physical activity outdoors.

For more detailed guidelines, click here to view AirNow.gov’s activity guides

You can also use AirNow to search your ZIP code for a look at the air quality near you. Click here to check