Tens of millions under air quality alerts as Canada’s wildfire smoke spreads across US
Tens of millions of Americans are currently under air quality alerts as smoke from wildfires spreading through Canada drift southward across east coast states.
Multiple states across the east coast including New York, Massachusetts and Connecticut have issued air quality alerts. The alerts come as a result of smoke from hundreds of wildfires that have been burning in Canada as early as May.
At one point on Wednesday morning, New York City had the second worst air quality in the world, coming in right under Delhi, India.
Mayor Eric Adams has urged residents to limit outdoor activity and warned those with pre-existing respiratory problems to stay indoors at this time.
Speaking to the Associated Press, David Hill, a pulmonologist in Waterbury, Connecticut, and a member of the American Lung Association’s national board of directors, said:
“We have defenses in our upper airway to trap larger particles and prevent them from getting down into the lungs. These are sort of the right size to get past those defenses… When those particles get down into the respiratory space, they cause the body to have an inflammatory reaction to them.”
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Key events
Philadelphia health officials have announced that the city is currently under a Code Red Fine Particles Action Day Alert.
“This means that the air is unhealthy to breathe. Air quality may vary throughout the city & throughout the day, with some areas having significantly worse quality depending on the prevailing winds,” said Philadelphia Public Health.
It went on to urge residents to “strongly consider cancelling outdoor events and gatherings” and to wear a “high quality mask” such as an N-95 or KN-95 if possible.
It also urged residents to close all windows and doors to minimize air population and to recirculate the air in homes via fans to “avoid bringing more air pollution” into homes.
Concerning symptoms to look out for include difficulty breathing, nausea, and dizziness.
Philadelphia is currently under a Code Red Fine Particles Action Day Alert. This means that the air is unhealthy to breathe. Air quality may vary throughout the city & throughout the day, with some areas having significantly worse quality depending on the prevailing winds. (1/7) pic.twitter.com/bB9EBMmCkO
— Philadelphia Public Health (@PHLPublicHealth) June 7, 2023
Despite June 7 being Global Running Day, numerous running events across New York City have been cancelled as a result of poor air quality.
On Wednesday, the New York Road Runners cancelled its Global Running Day events, the New York Times reports.
In a post on Twitter, the group wrote, “June 7 is Global Running Day, but if you’re in NYC or any affected area, please read and follow your city’s health advisory regarding air quality, and consider running another day.”
June 7 is Global Running Day, but if you’re in NYC or any affected area, please read and follow your city’s health advisory regarding air quality, and consider running another day. pic.twitter.com/YPYfgr284b
— New York Road Runners (@nyrr) June 6, 2023
Meanwhile, New York City’s Prospect Park Track Club announced on Wednesday that a 5k run it was supposed to host tonight at Prospect Park in Brooklyn has been cancelled.
Tens of millions under air quality alerts as Canada’s wildfire smoke spreads across US
Tens of millions of Americans are currently under air quality alerts as smoke from wildfires spreading through Canada drift southward across east coast states.
Multiple states across the east coast including New York, Massachusetts and Connecticut have issued air quality alerts. The alerts come as a result of smoke from hundreds of wildfires that have been burning in Canada as early as May.
At one point on Wednesday morning, New York City had the second worst air quality in the world, coming in right under Delhi, India.
Mayor Eric Adams has urged residents to limit outdoor activity and warned those with pre-existing respiratory problems to stay indoors at this time.
Speaking to the Associated Press, David Hill, a pulmonologist in Waterbury, Connecticut, and a member of the American Lung Association’s national board of directors, said:
“We have defenses in our upper airway to trap larger particles and prevent them from getting down into the lungs. These are sort of the right size to get past those defenses… When those particles get down into the respiratory space, they cause the body to have an inflammatory reaction to them.”
For more details, click here:
Millions of Americans under air quality alerts as a result of Canadian wildfires
Tens of millions of Americans are currently under air quality alerts as smoke from wildfires currently spreading through Canada drift southward across east coast states.
As of Tuesday, the US Environmental Protection Agency has issued poor air-quality alerts for New England, parts of Illinois, Wisconsin and Minnesota, the Associated Press reports.
Since May, smoke from Canadian wildfires has been moving over to the US. The most recent fires near Quebec have been burning for at least several days, according to the Associated Press.
In New York City, health officials have urged residents to limit outdoor activities and stay indoors for as much as possible, with mayor Eric Adams saying that the air quality alert is an “unprecedented event in our city and New Yorkers must take precaution.”
“Those with pre-existing respiratory problems, like heart or breathing problems, as well as children and older adults, may be especially sensitive and should stay indoors at this time,” Adams added.
As of Wednesday morning, New York City’s air quality rating is currently the fifth worst in the world, with Delhi taking the lead as first, according to IQAir air quality index.
Stay tuned as we bring you the latest updates.
