Smoke drifting from the ongoing wildfires in Canada is causing concerns about air quality in the Great Lakes region and parts of the central and eastern United States.
The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy has issued an air quality alert for the entire state. In Chicago, where the air quality has been categorized as “unhealthy” by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, officials are advising young people, older adults, and those with health issues to spend more time indoors.
Shelly Woinowski, a visitor to the Lincoln Park Zoo in Chicago, described the hazy conditions: “Just driving into the zoo… you could just see around the buildings, kind of just haze.”
Some day care centers in the Chicago area have informed parents that their children will be kept indoors due to the poor air quality. A youth sports club has also adjusted its activities to include more indoor time.
Mayor Brandon Johnson stated, “We recommend children, teens, seniors, people with heart or lung disease, and individuals who are pregnant avoid strenuous activities and limit their time outdoors. As these unsafe conditions continue, the city will continue to provide updates and take swift action to ensure that vulnerable individuals have the resources they need to protect themselves and their families.”
Earlier this month, massive fires burning stretches of Canadian forests blanketed the northeastern United States and the Great Lakes region, resulting in yellowish gray air and warnings to stay indoors and keep windows closed.
The small particles in wildfire smoke can irritate the eyes, nose, throat, and affect the heart and lungs. Health officials advise limiting outdoor activities to reduce exposure to these particles.
Smoke from fires in northern Quebec and low pressure over the eastern Great Lakes is spreading through northern Michigan, southern Wisconsin, and Chicago. The smoke is expected to move further south into Illinois, Indiana, and Kentucky.
The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency has issued an air quality alert for southern, east central, and northeast Minnesota.
Bryan Jackson, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service, noted that southwestern Michigan currently has high air quality index, indicating unhealthy levels of fine particle pollution.
Regarding the impact of climate change, U.S. President Joe Biden highlighted the Canadian wildfires and emphasized the need to address the increasing frequency and severity of such events.
Priti Marwah, a runner in Chicago, expressed concern about the haze, saying, “You can feel it… just even parking right there and coming out, I can feel it in my lungs.”
Flights at Detroit Metropolitan Airport and Milwaukee Mitchell Airport have not been significantly affected by the smoky haze.
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