How bad are the Canadian & US wildfires, and what my air quality risk?

IQAir, a company which tracks global air quality, ranked Detroit, Toronto and Minneapolis as the cities currently with the worst air quality in the world.

Wildfire smoke is hazardous for humans as it contains a mixture of very small polluting particles like PM2.5 and nitrogen dioxide.

“These particles when they get into our system get all the way down into our lungs, all the way down to our tiny breathing tubes and… they cause inflammation,” said Jim McDonald, New York State Department of Health commissioner in a public address video on social media.

The smoke can exacerbate existing respiratory, heart, kidney and eye conditions, according to the World Health Organization, external.

Emergency responders, and vulnerable groups such as those with chronic illnesses and children – who are closer to the ground where the smoke can sink – are most at risk.

Governments will issue warnings depending on the air quality level which advises people on precautions to take. For example, an orange alert means people are advised to:

KN95 or N95 masks should be able to filter out 95% of these tiny particles – although there are still risks. There are fraudulent copies being sold online so make sure it is government certified. Many cities have activated their air quality emergency protocols and are distributing masks at local centres.

For further information on your local air quality alerts, consult this site, external if you’re in Canada, and here if you’re in the US, external.