Smoke emanating from significant wildfires in Canada is drifting into the Midwest and Northeast, triggering air quality warnings in cities throughout the region.
The elevated smoke levels imply that even healthy adults should take precautions to safeguard their wellbeing. The intensifying severity of wildfires across the continent, partly attributed to climate change, indicates that regions without active fires will still experience repercussions.
As of Wednesday, more than 100 uncontrolled blazes are raging in Canada, with numerous others being monitored or extinguished. The smoke has spread south and east, creating hazy skies from Minnesota to New York. Notably, on Wednesday, Toronto encountered orange-hued skies. The area is also enduring a heatwave, with temperatures exceeding 90 degrees Fahrenheit in many spots and an even higher heat index.
On Wednesday evening, the air quality index (AQI) in New York City reached 180, classifying the air as “unhealthy” according to the US Environmental Protection Agency. Other regions faced worse situations, with Duluth, Minnesota, registering an AQI above 500 (anything over 301 is classified as “hazardous” and dangerous for everyone). Smoky conditions are likely to intensify in parts of the Northeast US on Thursday, impacting areas such as New York.
The smoke contains tiny PM2.5 particles, measuring less than 2.5 micrometers, about 30 times finer than a human hair.
Exposure to PM2.5 can aggravate numerous health problems, particularly in vulnerable populations. Nicholas Nassikas, an assistant professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School, recommends that his patients with ailments like asthma avoid being outdoors in these smoky situations. Children breathe more rapidly, resulting in greater exposure, while the elderly, often residing in poorly-ventilated spaces, are also at greater risk.
Jennifer Stowell from the University of Maryland’s School of Public Health mentions that even those in good health should exercise caution when the AQI surpasses 100. She advises limiting outdoor activities to lower exposure and, if necessary to be outside for extended periods, wearing an N95 mask is recommended. Stowell, located in Boston where the AQI reached 110 on Wednesday, chose to skip outdoor activities until later in the evening.
Dan Westervelt from Columbia University is also wary, deciding to keep his children indoors and forgoing physical activities such as running.
Climate change is raising temperatures, extending wildfire seasons, and fostering hotter, drier conditions that facilitate large fires. A study released last year suggests that wildfire smoke already causes 40,000 US deaths annually, potentially rising to 70,000 by 2050 if warming trends continue. As days with poor air quality from wildfire smoke become more common, research into the long-term effects of exposure is ongoing. The Northeast saw a comparable smoke event from Canadian wildfires in 2023.
Westervelt articulates, “Extended exposure to high air pollution has been demonstrated in numerous studies to cause premature mortality. Frequent encounters with elevated air pollution levels can decrease life expectancy.”