The warnings range from the orange level, which means the air is unhealthy for sensitive groups, and upwards. Affected areas include much of the eastern United States, from Chicago in the west to Atlanta in the south.
In many parts of the northeastern United States, the warnings are also at a red level – there the air is considered unhealthy for all people. The Canadian wildfires are believed to be the primary cause, although local emissions and meteorological factors may also play a role.
While healthy adults and children recover quickly if exposed to the smoke, people with chronic illnesses, such as asthma or cardiovascular disease, are more at risk. They are asked to keep track of any symptoms. Children, pregnant women and the elderly are also advised to limit their outdoor activities.
More than 100 forest fires are currently raging in the Canadian province of Quebec. The smoke and haze have, among other things, moved in over the great city of New York in the USA, forcing the city’s schools to cancel their outdoor activities.
Several flights to areas around New York and Philadelphia were also delayed or canceled on Wednesday due to poor visibility in the smoke, writes Reuters.
The yellowish, acrid smog that has spread across the US border for over a week means that New York now tops the list of the world’s worst air pollution, worse than Doha, Baghdad and Lahore.