Air quality alert extended through Friday as Taylor Swift holds Downtown concert

Quinlan Bentley, Cincinnati Enquirer
·2 min read
Pedestrians cross Main Street as smoke from Canadian wildfires continues to drift southward into the United States, causing widespread air quality alerts throughout the Midwest, Wednesday, June 28, 2023, in Downtown Cincinnati.
Pedestrians cross Main Street as smoke from Canadian wildfires continues to drift southward into the United States, causing widespread air quality alerts throughout the Midwest, Wednesday, June 28, 2023, in Downtown Cincinnati.
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The Southwest Ohio Air Quality Agency has extended an air quality alert through Friday in Greater Cincinnati, the same day thousands of people will be gathering Downtown for Taylor Swift's concert at Paycor Stadium and a Reds game at Great American Ballpark.

The alert will last through 11:59 p.m. Friday for Butler, Clermont, Hamilton and Warren counties in Ohio; Boone, Campbell and Kenton counties in Kentucky and Dearborn County in Indiana.

More: Should I wear a mask to Taylor Swift? Here's what to know about air quality in Ohio

The agency said levels of ozone and particle pollution stemming from the Canadian wildfires will place the region in the 101 to 150 range on the Air Quality Index, meaning members of sensitive groups may experience health problems. The index measured at 167 Thursday afternoon, compared to 185 Thursday morning and 183 on Wednesday.

Children, people with respiratory illnesses and older adults are being encouraged to limit their time spent outdoors.

Why is it smoky in Ohio?

Destructive wildfires in Canada began prompting air quality warnings in the U.S. earlier this month.

Air quality in Ohio: Breathing Cincinnati's air equivalent to smoking 2 cigarettes, calculator states

What part of Canada is on fire?

Quebec, Ontario and Nova Scotia in eastern Canada and western provinces like British Columbia, Alberta and Saskatchewan have seen massive fires during this year's wildfire season.

A map by the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre shows where fires are reported each day. There were 477 active fires Wednesday, according to the interagency.

What to do during an Air Quality Alert

The Ohio Department of Health advised Ohioans Tuesday to limit their time outdoors, especially for sensitive groups. Here are other steps you can take, according to department director Dr. Bruce Vanderhoff:

  • Spend time in a room you can close off from outside air.

  • Avoid using candles, gas, propane, wood-burning stoves, fireplaces and aerosol sprays. Smoking tobacco products and vacuuming may worsen indoor air pollution.

  • If you have a central air conditioning system, use high efficiency filters to capture fine particles from smoke. If your system has a fresh air intake, set the system to recirculate mode or close the outdoor intake damper.

  • Stay hydrated by drinking plenty of water. If your eyes, nose or throat are irritated, running a humidifier may provide some relief.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Air quality alert extended Friday as Taylor Swift holds concert