“Their lungs are still developing, they breathe in more air per unit of body weight.” How to check the air quality near youĪir quality is monitored using a number of factors, which determine an "air quality index" that the Environmental Protection Agency then uses. Kids, who often are encouraged to go out and play, “are more susceptible to smoke for a number of reasons,” said Laura Kate Bender, the lung association's National Assistant Vice President, healthy air. The air quality alerts caution “sensitive groups,” a big category that includes children, older adults, and people with lung diseases, such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. “It’s a good example of how complex the climate system is but also how connected it is,” Ford said.Įxposure to elevated fine particle pollution levels can affect the lungs and heart. Trent Ford, the state climatologist in Illinois, said the atmospheric conditions in the upper Midwest creating dry, warm weather made it possible for small particulates to travel hundreds of miles from the Canadian wildfires and linger for days. “When those particles get down into the respiratory space, they cause the body to have an inflammatory reaction to them.”
David Hill, a pulmonologist in Waterbury, Connecticut, and a member of the American Lung Association's National Board of Directors. These are sort of the right size to get past those defenses,” said Dr. “We have defenses in our upper airway to trap larger particles and prevent them from getting down into the lungs. But, usually, the smoke has been aloft and hasn't affected people's health, he said.Īir quality 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. It's very typical in terms of northwest Canada,” said Darren Austin, a meteorologist and senior air quality specialist with the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management.
“It's not unusual for us to get fire smoke in our area. Environmental Protection Agency said hazy skies, reduced visibility and the odor of burning wood are likely, and that the smoke will linger for a few days in northern states. But it’s really just going be all about the wind shift.”Īcross the eastern U.S., officials warned residents to stay inside and limit or avoid outdoor activities again Thursday, extending “Code Red” air quality alerts in some places for a third-straight day as forecasts showed winds continuing to push smoke-filled air south.īlood donors now offered new ‘mixed reality' experience during donations at Chicago-area centers How dangerous is it? “Since the fires are raging - they’re really large - they’re probably going to continue for weeks. “Conditions are likely to remain unhealthy, at least until the wind direction changes or the fires get put out,” Ramsey said. National Weather Service meteorologist Bryan Ramsey said. The weather system that’s driving the great Canadian-American smoke out - a low-pressure system over Maine and Nova Scotia - “will probably be hanging around at least for the next few days,” U.S. And according to experts, that might not be changing anytime soon. Hazy, sepia-toned skies from nearly 150 Canadian wildfires are hovering over at least 16 states including Illinois, disrupting daily life and creating hazardous air quality conditions for some.
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