Last summer, Canada experienced a severe wildfire season that forced thousands of people from their homes across a number of provinces. In June 2023, weather conditions caused a haze of smoke to sweep across Canada and the Eastern United States. and wildfire smoke clouded the skies, making air quality unhealthy in several states. In fact, Chicago, Detroit and New York City all experienced Air Quality Index (AQI) levels that were among the highest in the world at the time due to particle pollution from the smoke.
In May 2024, persistent drought conditions in western Canada contributed to an early start of the wildfire season, with several U.S. states already experiencing its adverse effects. Furthermore, elevated summer temperatures worsen air quality concerns. When heatwaves strike and the air stagnates, ground-level ozone pollution builds up. Climate change exacerbates this issue by intensifying particle pollution from wildfire smoke and increasing occurrences of extreme heat days.
In addition, hot summer temperatures can add to the air quality problem. This is because heat and stagnant air during a heat wave can lead to ground level ozone pollution building up. Climate change is leading to more particle pollution from wildfire smoke, more ozone pollution and more days with extreme heat.
Unhealthy air quality can be scary, but the Air Quality Index is a valuable tool to make informed choices that help you stay safe. Here is some essential information to help you use it.
What is the Air Quality Index (AQI)?
The AQI The AQI is a rating system that shows the severity of pollution in the air on a scale from 0 to 500. It’s a complex calculation that is administered by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The rating is created by measuring five major pollutants: ground-level ozone, particulate matter (PM2.5), carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide and sulfur dioxide. Ground-level ozone and particulate matter, or particle pollution, are the two air pollutants that are most widespread and pose the greatest risk to our health. Those measurements are then calculated into the 0-500 scale to give you one number that reflects how healthy the air is to breathe that day. Particle pollution from wildfire smoke is driving the high AQI values experienced by Chicago, New York City, and so many other cities affected by wildfires.
What are considered good and bad AQI values?
An AQI value under 50 is considered good air quality, meaning that it is safe for everyone to spend time outdoors without posing a risk to their health. As the AQI number increases however, so does the risk to health. An AQI over 300 is considered hazardous. Consult the chart below for more in-depth explanations:
Who is considered in a sensitive group?
High risk groups include children under 18, adults over 65, people with chronic heart or lung disease, people who are pregnant and people with diabetes. Adults who are active outdoors, including outdoor workers and avid exercisers, can be considered at higher risk as well because of prolonged exposure. All these groups are most likely to be the first to experience the effects of ozone and particle pollution, so they need to take extra steps to protect themselves from harm.
Contact your healthcare provider if:
What can you do to stay safe from poor air quality?
Air pollution can threaten anyone's health, so stay up to date on the AQI in your area. AQI forecasts and real-time information can be found on EPA’s AirNow Website. AQI values at or below 100 are generally thought of as satisfactory but be aware of how you feel and take steps to help protect yourself whenever needed.
On days when the air quality is orange, red, purple or maroon:
- Reduce the time you spend outdoors when the AQI value is high. Also, reduce the intensity of outdoor activity. According to the EPA, the chances of being affected by unhealthy levels of air pollution increase the longer a person is active outdoors and the more strenuous the activity.
- If you must go outdoors, consider wearing a mask. “Unfortunately, not all masks provide adequate protection against particle pollution. Cloth or dust masks, for instance, may not effectively filter out fine particles. However, well-fitted N95 or KN95 masks have better filtration capabilities and may be beneficial on days when the AQI level of concern is high.
- Keep your air indoors healthy by keeping the windows and doors closed. Run air conditioning on the recirculate setting, use a portable HEPA air cleaner or, if it is difficult to maintain clean air in your entire house, create a clean room.
Check out other clean air resources on our website.
If you experience new or recurring symptoms that worry you, speak with your healthcare provider. For non-urgent concerns, you can reach out to the Lung HelpLine at 1-800-LUNGUSA to get your questions answered on the impact wildfire smoke has on the lungs.
Blog last updated: August 6, 2024
