Wildfires in Canada have resulted in the worst air quality on record in New York. Smoking can create health problems on both sides of the border.
The US Environmental Directorate EPA has been recording air quality since 1999. Large amounts of fine dust particles from wildfires on Wednesday helped New York’s air quality index reach 413, written New York Times.
That’s more than double Tuesday’s peak. The index does not exceed 500.
Ask people to stay at home
If the number is over 100, this often leads to health warnings being issued for children, the elderly and others in risk groups. Values above 300 are considered harmful to everyone.
The worst, he says SCS
in Philadelphia, where the index was at 447 Thursday evening.
New York Governor Kathy Hochul says the state will distribute one million N95 masks, including 400,000 in New York City. She further asks people to stay at home.
– You don’t have to go out for a walk. You don’t have to roll the baby, Hochul said Wednesday night.
– Now it’s not safe to do so, she added.
Extreme and very rare situation
A NASA air pollution scientist says what is happening now is an extreme and extremely rare event.
– The closest we’ve come in the last 20-25 years is a similar situation on July 7 and 8, 2002. It’s almost frightening how similar it was, with forest fires in Canadian Quebec and the smoke drifting directly into the northeastern United States, says Ryan Stauffer.
– For many measuring stations in the northeast, this is the most polluting event to date for this type of particle.
In addition to fires, a very specific weather pattern contributes to smoking, Stauffer says.
There is a major high pressure system over central Canada, while a major low pressure system is located off the coast of the United States. Together, they create a north wind that sends smoke from Quebec directly across the northeastern United States and the Atlantic coast, explains the NASA expert.
May end up in the bloodstream
He says the most worrying factor in air pollution from wildfires is so-called PM2.5 particles. This is dust in suspension whose particles have a diameter of less than 2.5 micrometers. A micrometer is one thousandth of a millimeter.
– In other words, they are much smaller than the thickness of a lock of hair. They are so small that when you breathe them in, they not only cause respiratory problems and lung irritation; they’re small enough to be absorbed into the bloodstream, Stauffer says.
This can lead to a number of health issues with increased pressure on the heart and increased risk of heart attacks and strokes, he adds.
– We know that when we record high levels of air pollution, we can expect an increase in hospital admissions, and this affects people in vulnerable groups to the greatest extent, such as elderly, children and people sensitive to air pollution.
Historic wildfire season
Experts have warned that Canada could face its worst wildfire season. 20,000 were displaced by 400 forest fires.
In Quebec alone, there were more than 150 active wildfires Tuesday. The French-speaking province has requested international assistance to deal with the numerous fires. US President Joe Biden spoke by phone with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Wednesday and promised to send additional aid.
In the center of Canada’s capital, Ottawa, smoke was so thick on Wednesday that tall buildings were barely visible across the Ottawa River.
More bad news is that the weather system contributing to the large smoke blanket is not expected to move much. So he will probably stay at least until Friday, maybe even longer.
(© NTB)
