Certain parts of the United States are expected to experience a return of the wildfire smoke that covered the East Coast last week. New York is projected to have further haze on Friday, while regions in the upper Midwest are already grappling with air quality issues.
However, New York is not anticipated to witness a complete resurgence of the sepia-toned smoke cloud that hindered visibility last week. According to the National Weather Service, the smoke is likely to remain elevated above the ground. However, there may be a noticeable smoky smell.
On the other hand, Minneapolis experienced “very unhealthy” air quality levels on Thursday morning, as determined by air quality company Plume Labs.
By Friday morning, air quality levels in the city had returned to “excellent.” Meanwhile, Chicago recorded an Air Quality Index of 137, indicating unhealthy conditions for vulnerable populations, and eastern Iowa issued an air quality alert in effect until 10 p.m. Friday.
Meteorologists attribute this recurring danger to the intensity and early start of Canada’s wildfire season. Vijay Limaye, a climate and health scientist at the Natural Resources Defense Council’s Science Office, stated, “We’re currently witnessing an unprecedented wildfire season in Canada. At this point in June, approximately 13 million acres have burned, far exceeding the average we would expect.”
Currently, there are 446 active fires in Canada, including two that started on Friday. About half of these fires are categorized as “out of control,” as reported by the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Center.
With the nation’s fire preparedness level at 5, indicating the deployment of all available national resources, Quebec, which was responsible for last week’s smoke, is experiencing the largest number of active fires with 127.
Regarding the fluctuating air quality in the United States, Limaye noted, “We are at the mercy of the winds. The fires continue to burn, and it wouldn’t be surprising if we see intense smoke exposures return to the East Coast over the summer.”
While future episodes of wildfire smoke may not be as visually dramatic as last week’s clouds, Limaye warns that there is no safe exposure level to the fine particles and other air pollutants present in wildfire smoke.
FireSmoke Canada, which maps smoke coverage forecasts across the U.S.-Canada border, reveals that smoke from Canadian fires was detectable over a broad range of states, including Kentucky, Ohio, Michigan, and Indiana, on certain occasions during Friday.
Afif El-Hasan, a spokesperson and physician volunteer for the American Lung Association, explained that even when the fires die down, wildfire areas still contain residual particles and chemicals. These remnants can cause health problems. El-Hasan advises people to monitor government and air quality websites to stay informed about the outdoor air quality.
Individuals with respiratory conditions like asthma, in particular, should remain cautious and consider wearing high-quality masks when outdoor air quality poses a higher risk, El-Hasan added.
El-Hasan emphasized, “Even if you think it’s clearing, people could still be in danger. It could still harm people’s health, and they need to be mindful of it.”
Last week’s experience with air pollution from fires should serve as a wake-up call for the East Coast, according to Limaye. He mentioned that approximately one-third of wildfire smoke-related health impacts occur outside the western United States, highlighting the significant population density in the eastern region.
“This is now becoming an international public health crisis,” Limaye declared. “All the scientific evidence points to escalating health risks.”
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