Canada wildfire smoke targets air quality in Midwest, Great Lakes. What to know this week.

Adrianna Rodriguez, USA TODAY
Updated ·3 min read
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Wildfires in Canada are continuing to blanket its southern neighbors in smog, triggering new air quality alerts in the northern high plains, Midwest and Great Lakes, according to the National Weather Service. While the agency predicts the haze should wane by Monday, sensitive groups could still be at risk in the upcoming week.

Smoke from blazes in Alberta and British Columbia moved south across Minnesota following a cold front Friday, according to the state’s pollution control agency, prompting an air quality alert that was extended until Sunday afternoon.

As of Saturday, nearly 900 fires have burned in a record-breaking year for the Great White North, according to the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre.

Canada’s eastern provinces such as Quebec, Ontario and Nova Scotia have been hit particularly hard this year by large and at time uncontrollable infernos. But British Columbia, along Canada’s west coast, had the second-highest number of active fires followed by Alberta and Ontario.

What is AQI, or air quality index?

The air quality index, or AQI, measures the air quality and level of health concern it presents as measured by the Environmental Protection Agency.

Air quality alerts are indicators the air is unsafe to breathe for certain people. Alerts are triggered by a number of factors, including the detection of fine-particle pollution — known as “PM 2.5” — which can irritate the lungs.

Pollution is detected by a system of monitors on the ground “constantly taking measurements of the amount of chemicals and particles in the air,” said Susan Anenberg, professor and department chair of environmental and occupational health at George Washington University.

What is the forecast? US air quality map

Is there a fire near me? US wildfire, smoke map

How does air pollution affect human health? Who is at risk?

Fine-particle pollution can affect every organ of the body, Anenberg said.

Studies show particle pollution has been linked to various health problems, according to the EPA, including:

  • Premature death in people with heart or lung disease

  • Nonfatal heart attacks

  • Irregular heartbeat

  • Aggravated asthma

  • Decreased lung function

  • Increased respiratory symptoms, such as coughing or difficulty breathing

Wildfire smoke and your lungs: Here's what to know about health effects

Air pollution can be particularly harmful for sensitive populations, Anenberg said, such as people who have pre-existing medical conditions, older people, young children or people who are pregnant.

“People with chronic lung disorders are most at risk for exposure to smoke … It is important to continue taking medications to keep disorders under control,” said Dr. Jorge Mercado, associate chief of pulmonary, critical care, and sleep medicine at New York University Langone Hospital in Brooklyn.

How to stay safe from air pollution

PM2.5 is a mixture of chemicals that change based on what’s burning, Anenberg said. It’s possible some of the wildfire plume may contain toxic compounds from metals and chemicals.

“This can be quite health damaging and it’s important to recognize that this isn’t (all) natural biomass being burned but built environment, too,” she said.

It’s important take precautions against poor air quality. These are some safety recommendations from the California Air Resources Board, the state's agency charged with climate change programs and air pollution control.

  • Monitor daily air pollution forecasts in your area

  • Avoid exercising outdoors when pollution levels are high

  • Stay indoors with the windows and doors closed

  • Set air conditioning units to “re-circulate” to prevent bringing in air from outdoors

  • Keep hydrated by drinking water

  • Avoid adding to air pollution by wood burning, lawn mowing, leaf blowing, driving, barbecuing, smoking, using hairspray or painting indoors

Contributing: Ridah Syed, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel and Olivia Munso, USA TODAY. Follow Adrianna Rodriguez on Twitter: @AdriannaUSAT.

Health and patient safety coverage at USA TODAY is made possible in part by a grant from the Masimo Foundation for Ethics, Innovation and Competition in Healthcare. The Masimo Foundation does not provide editorial input.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Canadian wildfire smoke is back: How will air quality be affected