Air Quality Warning

[VICK B.]

4 large Canadian cities and 3 huge American cities with air Smog and very poor air quality..

Please use your mask...

Smog Warnings and poor air quality continue to plague parts of Quebec

Montrealers woke up to hazy sun and smoky skies again Tuesday morning. Northerly winds from wildfires burning north of the city continue to blow smoke into Southern Quebec.

beta.ctvnews.ca

 

[puglover]

Just have to say this "heat warning" for Winnipeg today!!

 

[VICK B.]

Please use a mask

https://www.cnn.com/2023/06/06/us/new-york-air-pollution-canada-wildfires-climate/index.html

 

[once_upon]

Air quality in the middle of the US is still "unhealthy" zone. From the Canada wildfire and a "low ozone" (I don't know what that is).

 

[skatingguy]

Air quality in the middle of the US is still "unhealthy" zone. From the Canada wildfire and a "low ozone" (I don't know what that is).

Low level ozone is the same gas that makes up the ozone layer, but in this case the gas forms when sunlight hits hydrocarbons and nitrous oxide from industrial emissions.

 

[Vash01]

I worked as Air Quality Engineer in Arizona for over 10 years. For five years before that I analyzed data for various pollutants in the air. Every summer Ozone is a problem in the Phoenix metro area (Maricopa county). Frequently we have HPA (High Pollution Advisory). Some days people are encouraged to car pool or use public transportation because NOx from car exhaust help create ground level Ozone, which is bad for our health. The Ozone in the upper atmosphere is 'good' because it protects us against the sun.

Here is a helpful link about the basics about Ozone.

Ground-level Ozone Basics | US EPA

Learn the difference between good (stratospheric) and bad (tropospheric) ozone, how bad ozone affects our air quality, health, and environment, and what EPA is doing about it through regulations and standards.

www.epa.gov

I am not surprised that big cities have bad air. More traffic, industry contribute to it. The Maricopa County Air Quality Department, where I used to work, published Air Quality Index (AQI) daily to help us understand if the air that day is good/moderate/dangerous, etc.

In the USA, www.airnow.gov tells you about the air quality at different locations.

Right now it is good where I am. It has not been too hot, which helps. It will change of course as the summer temperatures climb.

 

[misskarne]

4 large Canadian cities and 3 huge American cities with air Smog and very poor air quality..

Please use your mask...

Smog Warnings and poor air quality continue to plague parts of Quebec

Montrealers woke up to hazy sun and smoky skies again Tuesday morning. Northerly winds from wildfires burning north of the city continue to blow smoke into Southern Quebec.

beta.ctvnews.ca

This happened to us during the Black Summer, too. Many days my city had worse air quality than Dehli. It will hang around for a while. Wear a mask, many Australians suffered during that summer from the smoke as much as the fire.

 

[Judy]

There are multiple fires burning in different provinces. In Ottawa we got hit really bad with the poorest air quality rating. I masked when I had to run to the pharmacy. We need rain for sure.

 

[Vash01]

It reminds me of the fires In California. I had to cancel my trip to Lake Tahoe because of the fires there. My friend in the Bay Area said they were wearing KN95 masks (this was before C19). Oregon also had poor air quality in 2020.

 

[BlueRidge]

Does anyone know if the masks that we have used for Covid are effective for the smoke?

I just walked my dog here in DC and its here too. And its not as bad here as closer but it irritated my airways.

 

[MLIS]

I have read that N95 and KN95 masks are very effective and public health here (Ontario) is encouraging people to wear them outdoors.

 

[BlueRidge]

I have read that N95 and KN95 masks are very effective and public health here (Ontario) is encouraging people to wear them outdoors.

Thank you. I'm kind of stunned at how much it irritated my nasal passages to be outside this morning.

I know its worse farther north.

 

[PRlady]

Thank you. I'm kind of stunned at how much it irritated my nasal passages to be outside this morning.

I know its worse farther north.

We returned from two days in beautiful countryside but it was hazy there too. Now our eyes are itching and my cough is worse so it’s definitely worse in the cities. My asthmatic BIL in NYC can’t go out.

 

[Badams]

I worked as Air Quality Engineer in Arizona for over 10 years. For five years before that I analyzed data for various pollutants in the air. Every summer Ozone is a problem in the Phoenix metro area (Maricopa county). Frequently we have HPA (High Pollution Advisory). Some days people are encouraged to car pool or use public transportation because NOx from car exhaust help create ground level Ozone, which is bad for our health. The Ozone in the upper atmosphere is 'good' because it protects us against the sun.

Here is a helpful link about the basics about Ozone.

Ground-level Ozone Basics | US EPA

Learn the difference between good (stratospheric) and bad (tropospheric) ozone, how bad ozone affects our air quality, health, and environment, and what EPA is doing about it through regulations and standards.

www.epa.gov

I am not surprised that big cities have bad air. More traffic, industry contribute to it. The Maricopa County Air Quality Department, where I used to work, published Air Quality Index (AQI) daily to help us understand if the air that day is good/moderate/dangerous, etc.

In the USA, www.airnow.gov tells you about the air quality at different locations.

Right now it is good where I am. It has not been too hot, which helps. It will change of course as the summer temperatures climb.

Thank you for those links, @Vash01, they are very helpful.

 

[once_upon]

@BlueRidge - I carry a mask, not particularly a N-95 just any mask, even a cloth mask, at all times. When walking in a construction area, or if it's particularly smoky or the cottonwood or other allergens are blowing around, wearing them helps. I did that pre covid.

I'll continue to carry one and wear it - I firmly believe it's a godsend to my lungs.

 

[Buzz]

There is an air quality warning here in Toronto and I have asthma. Not a good combo.

 

[PRlady]

Just got a notification from Nat Weather service that air quality is very poor today. Hope Diana’s daycare keeps them inside.

 

[annie720]

More smoke this morning in the Philly area. Rethinking whether to do the totally voluntary lecture and book club today that are 30 mins away. Hubby's eyes react strongly to smoke.

 

[kedrin]

I normally ride my bike into work- not today, which is, I think, the first time I've not ridden due to air quality.

 

[PRlady]

I normally ride my bike into work- not today, which is, I think, the first time I've not ridden due to air quality.

I’ve just sternly forbidden DH from riding his bike downtown to an appointment. I don’t need the car til late afternoon, he can drive.

Of course as all wives know, that doesn’t mean he will listen. Sigh.

 

[kedrin]

Maybe he could rent one of those scooters- DC is perfect for those. I rode all over the place on my last day there.

 

[Judy]

There is an air quality warning here in Toronto and I have asthma. Not a good combo.

Yes a large part of Ontario .. not sure about other provinces etc … . Definitely NOT good at all with asthma. It‘s worse here in Ottawa today too. I’m even limiting how much my dogs are going outside.

my friend’s co-worker who has asthma is still insisting she’s going to QC on Fri before a conference in Maine.

 

[Vagabond]

Does anyone know if the masks that we have used for Covid are effective for the smoke?

Yes. During the 2020 wildfires in California, the advice was to wear a N95 mask or the like if you had to go outside.

ETA: The New York Times has a piece on this.

N95 Masks Helped Protect Against the Coronavirus. They Also Work Against Wildfire Smoke. (Published 2023)

Use N95, or better, masks and make sure they cover your nose and mouth.

www.nytimes.com

 

[VALuvsMKwan]

We returned from two days in beautiful countryside but it was hazy there too. Now our eyes are itching and my cough is worse so it’s definitely worse in the cities. My asthmatic BIL in NYC can’t go out.

Interesting - my eyes have been itching and my allergic breathing reactions have flared up here in Central VA as well, apparently due to air quality issues.

 

[Lara]

Is there a wind pattern reducing the impact to Montreal vs. other northeast cities? It was definitely hazy yesterday, but I walked my usual (about an hour total going to and from lab) without knowing how bad the situation was. My brother otoh did say his allergies were miserable, so it must really depend on the person. Still seems crazy though that this is impacting so far south, sorry for all those struggling.

 

[Wyliefan]

I haven't stepped outside today, and I'm still sneezing and have itchy eyes. I don't know whether the bad air is just that powerful, or I'm just that suggestible.

 

[BlueRidge]

I haven't stepped outside today, and I'm still sneezing and have itchy eyes. I don't know whether the bad air is just that powerful, or I'm just that suggestible.

Is your AC on?

If not, your probably getting bad air inside. I am. Although the fact that my front door is being replaced and so therefore its open while they work may be part of that.

 

[VALuvsMKwan]

Wildfire smoke map: Forecast shows which US cities, states are being impacted by Canadian wildfires

Wildfires burning in Canada are continuing to create poor air quality conditions in the U.S. as the smoke makes its way south.

abcnews.go.com

 

[Judy]

Wildfire smoke map: Forecast shows which US cities, states are being impacted by Canadian wildfires

Wildfires burning in Canada are continuing to create poor air quality conditions in the U.S. as the smoke makes its way south.

abcnews.go.com

Canada apologizes

 

[MacMadame]

I have read that N95 and KN95 masks are very effective and public health here (Ontario) is encouraging people to wear them outdoors.

We have KN95 masks in our emergency kit because of that. (Our emergencies are almost always from fires.)