Millions of people in the US are once again facing increased air pollution due to wildfires in Canada, similar to what occurred last month. As approximately 70 million individuals are under air quality advisories, wildfire smoke from western Canada is spreading to parts of the northern US, reaching as far south as Alabama.
The situation in Canada is dire, with nearly 900 forest fires burning this week. The Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre has classified the majority of these fires as “out of control.”
Cities in the US are reporting elevated levels on the Air Quality Index (AQI), which measures daily air quality readings. For instance, Cleveland recorded a 159 AQI, Louisville a 166 AQI, and Pittsburgh a 151 AQI on Monday. Any AQI reading above 150 is considered unhealthy and can have negative health consequences.
Local governments are responding by issuing air quality warnings in response to the smoke. The Illinois environmental protection agency (EPA) extended an air quality alert for much of the state through Monday, and New York state is also under an air quality warning during this period.
Governor Kathy Hochul of New York urged residents to prepare for the smoke’s impact on the state’s air quality and announced the activation of emergency notification systems along with the distribution of protective masks.
This is not the first time the US has faced such a situation. In June, Americans were already exposed to increased air pollution as smoke traveled from forest fires in Canada. New York City experienced the worst air quality in the world on 7th June, with skies turning orange due to the smoke. The US experienced historically toxic air pollution levels, with air pollution in New York surpassing the national air quality standard by over five times.
The main pollutants released by wildfires, known as PM2.5, are tiny particles of soot and debris. Inhaling PM2.5 can lead to severe health issues and even death. The impact is particularly pronounced for people with underlying health conditions and other risk factors.
Furthermore, as climate change continues to drive global temperatures higher, the United Nations reported in 2022 that air pollution from smoke is expected to worsen.
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The situation demands immediate attention and proactive measures to address both the immediate health risks and the underlying causes of these devastating wildfires.
