Authorities in the United States have issued an air quality advisory to more than 100 million of its citizens as smoke from wildfires in eastern Canada worsened air quality in neighboring regions of the world’s largest economy.
The advisory is in effect from the Midwest and Texas to the Northeast, Boston, New York City and Philadelphia.
Clouds of smoke from wildfires in Canada can smell in the air and have clouded skies in parts of the United States.
High levels of smog—a mixture of pollutants consisting mostly of ground-level ozone that can damage the respiratory system—are contributing to worsening health conditions for city residents.
How does air quality deteriorate?
Dr. Purvi Parekh, an allergist and immunologist at the Allergy and Asthma Network, said poor air quality can be caused by any airborne “irritant” — a particle or substance in the air that is irritating to a person to breathe. “Some examples are air pollution, including vehicle and carbon emissions, as well as rising ozone levels,” Parekh said.
Natural disasters like wildfires often harm air quality because smoke, which contains carbon monoxide and other chemicals, enters the atmosphere.
Dr. Reich noted: “All of these things can be harmful because they can create particles that can go deep into your lungs if you breathe them in,” he said.
An air quality index used by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to assess air quality ranges from 0 to 300, with levels below 50 considered healthy. Is.
When it measures more than 150, people start suffering from various symptoms.
How does air quality affect health?
Dr. Wayne Armand, physician at Massachusetts General Hospital and associate director of the MGH Center for Environment and Health, said: “Many of the health problems that people see from poor air quality are, in general, associated with health problems. There may be overlap with what people see from wildfires. smoke.”
He also noted: “Air pollution from forest fire smoke can cause breathing problems for anyone, but especially young children, older adults, pregnant women, and those with asthma or other respiratory conditions. For those suffering from it.”
Poor air quality can cause irritation to the eyes, nose, throat and lungs, as well as increase the risk of respiratory infections.
Long-term exposure can cause a number of chronic health conditions, including:
- Severe asthma
- Premature birth
- Heart disease
- A stroke
- Lung cancer
- Dementia
- Low IQ in children
The study noted that smoke can be particularly dangerous for pregnant women because their lung capacity is typically reduced due to their growing bellies.
How to protect yourself from poor air quality?
Brady Scott, a fellow at the American Association for Respiratory Care, advises people to stay indoors as much as possible with doors and windows closed. This includes activities such as exercise, which can cause stress on the lungs.
He stressed that people with respiratory health conditions, including asthma, should monitor their symptoms closely, adding that they should also ensure that their medications, such as inhalers, are available or not expired.
“People know their bodies very well. If they notice some changes that they think are related to bad air, they probably need to contact a physician or advanced practice provider,” Scott said.
Parekh also advised people to keep their houses well ventilated and urged people to wear masks when going out.
“Believe it or not, wearing a mask like we did with COVID can help act as a barrier between you and reduce the amount of particles you breathe in,” he said. Is.”