Canadian wildfire smoke continued to block out the sun and turn skies yellow over states across the Northeast on Wednesday, leading Massachusetts to issue an air quality alert warning sensitive residents to take caution.
“Due to elevated levels of fine particles (PM2.5), air quality statewide is expected to be unhealthy for sensitive groups,” the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) stated Wednesday morning. “Sensitive groups include people with heart or lung disease, such as asthma, older adults, children, teenagers, and people who are active outdoors.”
The air quality alert is effective through midnight Thursday, MassDEP said.
Smoke from a cluster of wildfires around western Ontario began blanketing the northeastern U.S. on Tuesday, with conditions expected to continue through Wednesday. Over 830 wildfires were burning in Canada as of midday Wednesday, according to the Canadian Wildland Fire Information System.
Around greater Boston, air quality readings around noon showed “moderate” ratings around the city and “unhealthy for sensitive groups” ratings to the north around Lynn, according to MassDEP’s MassAir data.
MassDEP advised people sensitive to air quality “reduce prolonged or heavy outdoor exertion, take more breaks, do less intense activities, follow asthma action plans, and keep quick relief medicine handy.”
“Watch for symptoms such as coughing or shortness of breath,” the alert continued.
People with “lung disease or heart disease are at greater risk from exposure to air pollution,” the state warned.
Comments