At the statue of liberty security I got stopped and sprayed with air puffs? why?

When I walked through the security arch the woman stopped me inside the arch and said I would feel air. Then air puffed at me from the walls starting at my feet and going up to my head. Then she said wait for the light to turn green (it was red at the moment) and I had to stand there for about 3 minutes before the light turned green. What was the purpose of this? and the air puffs? I was just curious because I walked through the security arch in ellis island earlier that day and I wasn't stopped and usually they just use the wand.