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Orange haze blankets North America cities as Quebec wildfire smoke spreads Canada wildfires: Tens of millions under air quality warnings as fires burn
(about 2 hours later)
Air quality in Toronto was deemed "high risk" on Tuesday. Smoke from intense Canadian wildfires impacted cities as far away as New York
High-risk air quality warnings have been issued for millions of people across North America due to ongoing wildfires in Canada. Tens of millions of people in North America have been warned about potentially dangerous air quality as intense wildfires burn across Canada.
Wildfire smoke has blanketed major cities in Ontario and Quebec, including Toronto and its surrounding areas. Smoke blanketed large areas of Ontario and Quebec on Tuesday, while an orange haze hung over much of the north-eastern US.
The smoke has reached as far as New York City and Connecticut, where air quality has been classified as "unhealthy". Some cities including Toronto and New York had among the worst air quality in any city in the world overnight.
Much of the smoke is coming from Quebec, where 160 fires are burning.Much of the smoke is coming from Quebec, where 160 fires are burning.
Environment Canada issued its strongest warning on Tuesday for Ottawa, deeming the air quality in the Canadian capital a "very high risk" to people's health. Canadian officials say the country is shaping up for its worst wildfire season on record.
In Toronto and its surrounding areas, the air quality has been classified as "high risk". Experts have pointed to a warmer and drier spring than normal as the reason behind the trend. These conditions are projected to continue throughout the summer.
Meanwhile, the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has classified the air quality in much of the north-eastern US as "unhealthy", especially for people who already had respiratory issues. Environment Canada issued its strongest air quality warning for Ottawa on Tuesday, deeming it a "very high risk" to people's health.
Air quality advisories include much of New York City and Connecticut. They also stretch as far north as Boston and as far south as Pittsburgh and Washington DC. In Toronto and its surrounding areas, the air quality was classified as "high risk".
Parts of eastern Pennsylvania, New York and New England have seen their Air Quality Index top 200, meaning conditions that are "very unhealthy for everyone". Meanwhile, the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) classified the air quality in much of the north-east as "unhealthy" especially for people who already have respiratory issues.
In New York, photos taken on Tuesday morning showed an orange haze blanketing the city's skyline due to the wildfire smoke from Canada that has travelled south. In total, some 100m people around North America are thought to be under a form of air quality warning.
The air quality in Toronto was deemed "high risk" on Tuesday
In New York, an orange haze blanketed the city's skyline and shrouded landmarks including the Statue of Liberty.
Public health officials have cautioned people not to exercise outside and to minimise their exposure to the smoke as much as possible, as the air poses immediate and long-term health risks.Public health officials have cautioned people not to exercise outside and to minimise their exposure to the smoke as much as possible, as the air poses immediate and long-term health risks.
Deteriorating air quality has also forced at least one region in Quebec - the Atikamekw community of Opitciwan, 350km (217 miles) north of Montreal - to transfer people with asthma and other respiratory issues away from the smoke.Deteriorating air quality has also forced at least one region in Quebec - the Atikamekw community of Opitciwan, 350km (217 miles) north of Montreal - to transfer people with asthma and other respiratory issues away from the smoke.
Canada continues to see a more active wildfire season than normal. Federal officials cautioned on Monday that this summer may bring Canada's largest fires yet because of dry and hot conditions that are forecast for much of the season. Fires across Canada have already burned more than 3.3m hectares of land - an area 12 times the 10-year average for this time of year.
Fires across the country have already burned more than 3.3m hectares of land - an area 12 times the 10-year average for this time of year. Thousands of people have been evacuated across the country.
Thousands of people have been evacuated across the country, including in Quebec, where fires have burned around 200,000 hectares to date. As well as Quebec, major fires have also been burning in British Columbia, Alberta, Ontario, Nova Scotia and the Northwest Territories.
Major fires have also been burning in British Columbia, Alberta, Ontario, Nova Scotia and the Northwest Territories. Climate change increases the risk of the hot, dry weather that is likely to fuel wildfires.
The world has already warmed by about 1.2C since the industrial era began, and temperatures will keep rising unless governments around the world make steep cuts to emissions.
There were 160 wildfires burning across Quebec as of TuesdayThere were 160 wildfires burning across Quebec as of Tuesday
How does wildfire smoke affect your health?How does wildfire smoke affect your health?
Experts say exposure to wildfire smoke can cause a litany of health issues.Experts say exposure to wildfire smoke can cause a litany of health issues.
Matthew Adams, a professor at the University of Toronto and the director of its Centre of Urban Environments, said immediate effects of inhaling wildfire smoke include shortness of breath, an elevated pulse, chest pain, or inflammation in the eyes, nose and throat.Matthew Adams, a professor at the University of Toronto and the director of its Centre of Urban Environments, said immediate effects of inhaling wildfire smoke include shortness of breath, an elevated pulse, chest pain, or inflammation in the eyes, nose and throat.
"On these elevated air pollution days, we'll see an increased number of visits to hospital," Prof Adams told the BBC. "And the people that are visiting the hospital typically have a pre-existing respiratory disease.""On these elevated air pollution days, we'll see an increased number of visits to hospital," Prof Adams told the BBC. "And the people that are visiting the hospital typically have a pre-existing respiratory disease."
But wildfire smoke has also been linked to serious, long-term health issues like cancer or lung disease, Prof Adams said, specifically for people who live in areas that experience frequent forest fires.But wildfire smoke has also been linked to serious, long-term health issues like cancer or lung disease, Prof Adams said, specifically for people who live in areas that experience frequent forest fires.
This is caused by small particles in the smoke haze, he said, which can enter the bloodstream and other parts of the human body, causing possible DNA mutations and other health issues.This is caused by small particles in the smoke haze, he said, which can enter the bloodstream and other parts of the human body, causing possible DNA mutations and other health issues.
Some studies have also shown that prolonged wildfire smoke exposure can affect pregnant women and their unborn children, Prof Adams added.Some studies have also shown that prolonged wildfire smoke exposure can affect pregnant women and their unborn children, Prof Adams added.
For people living in cities far away from the fires but under current air advisories, Prof Adams advised people limit outdoor exercise to avoid breathing in the wildfire smoke.For people living in cities far away from the fires but under current air advisories, Prof Adams advised people limit outdoor exercise to avoid breathing in the wildfire smoke.
"Don't get so concerned about it," he said. "Stay inside and reduce your exposure.""Don't get so concerned about it," he said. "Stay inside and reduce your exposure."
But in areas closer to the fires, Prof Adams recommended wearing an N95 mask outside to block inhalation of most of the smoke particles.But in areas closer to the fires, Prof Adams recommended wearing an N95 mask outside to block inhalation of most of the smoke particles.
He also advised installing Hepa filters and better ventilation inside the home to minimise exposure.
Related TopicsRelated Topics
New York CityNew York City
WildfiresWildfires
QuebecQuebec
Air pollutionAir pollution
United StatesUnited States
CanadaCanada