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“Over the long term, high exposure to air pollution can lead to cardiovascular disease and certain types of cancer.”
Published date May 18, 2024 • Last updated 7 hours ago • Reading time 3 minutes
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On Tuesday, May 16, 2023, the downtown Calgary skyline was covered in thick smoke from wildfires.Gavin Young/Postmedia Files
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Wildfires are burning in northern Alberta and northern British Columbia, including near Fort McMurray, and health experts are warning of the risk of worsening air quality from the smoke.
Wildfire smoke contains a mixture of harmful gases and solid particles, experts warn. Particulate matter, also known as PM 2.5, is a major concern for public health. The particles can be inhaled and enter the lungs and bloodstream, where they can damage other organs.
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Kelly Johansson of the University of Calgary and Schneider Chronic Disease Institute said people can protect themselves by being aware of air quality monitoring numbers and what they mean.
Most weather apps show air quality, she says. “If you have a chronic lung or heart condition, or are in a vulnerable group such as pregnant women, children, the elderly or people with chronic conditions, you should consider changing your behavior.”
Johansson said it's hard to imagine air quality getting worse than last year. “That being said, if history is any indication of the future, we will be experiencing again what we have experienced with past wildfires.”
Johansson said wildfire smoke is thought to be even more toxic than regular air pollution, and recent literature and data show that exposure to wildfire smoke has both short- and long-term risks. He added that it shows.
“People with lung diseases, such as asthma, experience exacerbations in which their shortness of breath worsens suddenly. Exposure to large amounts of air pollution can lead to cardiovascular disease and certain types of cancer in the long term. Yes,” she said.
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On Sunday, June 11, 2023, Calgary was blanketed in wildfire smoke from various forest fires across Alberta and British Columbia.Azin Ghaffari/Postmedia Files
Upper-level winds control the spread of wildfire smoke
Opel Vuj, a regional air quality and health expert with Health Canada, said the best way to protect yourself when wildfire smoke is prevalent is to stay indoors. “When you're indoors, make sure the air is clean and the temperature is cool.”
Vusi added that wildfires usually occur during periods of extreme heat.
“And when you're indoors, try not to pollute indoor air by frying, vacuuming, smoking, or burning wood. These activities contribute to indoor air pollution.” he says.
Vuzi advised using portable air purifiers, taking frequent breaks when working outdoors to reduce exposure, and wearing a certified N95-type mask.
Andy Yun, a meteorologist with Environment and Climate Change Canada, said Calgary's air quality problems are not just from wildfire smoke coming from within the province, but also from other parts of Western Canada. .
Upper-level winds control the dispersion of smoke and can actually carry it quite a distance, Yun said. “This is how smoke from last year's British Columbia wildfires reached eastern Canada and the eastern United States.”
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It's too early to predict what air quality will be like this year, he said.
“When smoke occurs in an area, it is unlikely to completely mix all the way to the ground; sometimes it mixes, sometimes it doesn’t. If it doesn’t, the air quality at the ground level is still at an acceptable level. Maybe, but the sky is very cloudy.
Wildfire smoke returned to Calgary Thursday, July 13, 2023, obscuring the downtown skyline.Gavin Young/Postmedia Files
“Our state lives with the threat of wildfires.”
At a press conference Wednesday, Alberta Premier Daniel Smith spoke about the wildfires near Fort McMurray that have displaced more than 6,600 people.
“While we were relieved to see the extent of wildfire evacuation orders and warnings in Grand Prairie County reduced, even as that occurred, the Municipality of Wood Buffalo continued to respond to wildfires south of Fort McMurray. “We have issued an evacuation order for parts of Fort McMurray,” she said.
In reference to the devastating fires eight years ago that destroyed around 2,400 homes and businesses and killed 90,000 people, the prime minister said: “In 2016, as residents scrambled to leave their homes, “We know this will bring back difficult memories of the devastating fires.” run away.
“These evacuations are a stark reminder that our province lives with the threat of wildfires and other natural disasters. Whenever a disaster occurs, our government We guarantee that we will support you.”
Canada is currently battling 138 wildfires, according to the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Center. Dozens of cases were rated as out of control.
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