Press "Enter" to skip to content

Tag: air pollution

Topic: QuebecView all posts for the topic: Quebec

Wildfires: Montreal has the worst air quality in the world

Published July 26, 2025

Still COVIDing Canada Posts

Published by: Radio-Canada
Published on:
By Patrick MacIntyre

Smoke from forest fires is responsible for poor air quality in southern Quebec, northern Ontario, Manitoba and Saskatchewan. Montreal is also on Saturday the city where air quality is the worst in the world, according to IQAir’s ranking.

With a score of 191, Montreal ranks first, ahead of cities like Kinshasa in Congo and Manama in Bahrain. Toronto is also part of the top 10, it ranks 8th with a score of 110.

A score between 101 and 150 on the IQAir index indicates that conditions are poor for vulnerable people. If the index is higher than 150, the conditions are bad for everyone’s health.

Continue readingWildfires: Montreal has the worst air quality in the world
Comments closed
Topic: ManitobaView all posts for the topic: Manitoba

Wildfire smoke leads to air quality warnings for much of Manitoba this weekend

Published July 19, 2025

Still COVIDing Canada Posts

Published by: CBC News
Published on:
By Santiago Arias Orozco

Smoke billowing from wildfires is leading to poor air quality and reducing visibility throughout most of Manitoba this weekend.

Environment and Climate Change Canada issued warnings Saturday morning for a large swath of the province, including Winnipeg and Brandon in the south, the Interlake and Thompson in the north.

“We have asthma so we try to just like think about how our chest is feeling … and go from there,” Aleecia Doyle said of she and her son, Liam Doyle. The pair ventured to Old Market Square to catch some of the entertainment for Winnipeg Fringe Theatre Festival opening weekend.

Continue readingWildfire smoke leads to air quality warnings for much of Manitoba this weekend
Comments closed
Topic: SaskatchewanView all posts for the topic: Saskatchewan

Saskatoon under air quality warning as wildfire smoke blows in from the north

Published July 14, 2025

Still COVIDing Canada Posts

Published by: CTV News
Published on:
By Rory MacLean

Saskatoon residents are feeling the lingering effects of the province’s northern wildfires on Monday, as a northerly wind has blown heavy smoke into central Saskatchewan.

Environment and Climate Change Canada issued an air quality warning after 4 a.m. Monday, advising anyone likely to be affected by smoke, including infants and young children, seniors, people with chronic conditions and those who work outdoors to limit time outside and seek medical attention if they experience symptoms.

The air quality index for the day is listed as 10-plus — considered a very high risk to health.

“During heavy smoke conditions, everyone’s health is at risk regardless of their age or health status,” Environment Canada said.

Continue readingSaskatoon under air quality warning as wildfire smoke blows in from the north
Comments closed
Topic: air qualityView all posts for the topic: air quality

Toronto has some of the worst air quality in the world right now — and a new study says smog and wildfire smoke can damage your heart

Published July 14, 2025

Still COVIDing Canada Posts

Published by: Toronto Star
Published on:
By Omar Mosleh

With the city once again blanketed in wildfire smoke, experts are warning that long-term exposure to air pollution can lead to higher risk of heart failure.

Environment Canada issued a special air quality statement on Sunday night due to wildfire smoke from northern Ontario pushing Toronto’s Air Quality Health Index to 10+, classified as “very high risk.” Poor air quality was expected to persist Monday and possibly into Tuesday.

The effects of air pollution on the heart are underscored in a recent study, which found that long-term exposure to air pollution, in particular fine particulate matter, was linked to higher levels of diffuse myocardial fibrosis, a type of heart scarring that can lead to higher risk of heart failure.

Continue readingToronto has some of the worst air quality in the world right now — and a new study says smog and wildfire smoke can damage your heart
Comments closed
Topic: SaskatchewanView all posts for the topic: Saskatchewan

Wildfire smoke descends on Saskatoon

Published May 30, 2025

Still COVIDing Canada Posts

Published by: CTV News
Published on:
By Rory MacLean

Saskatoon was under an air quality advisory Friday morning, as wildfires raging in northern Alberta and Saskatchewan sent smoke across the southern parts of the province.

Those who left a window open overnight likely woke up to the familiar smell of a campfire, but Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) is advising residents to close their windows and limit strenuous outdoor activities or exercise while the system of air pollution passes through.

“Protect your indoor air from wildfire smoke. Actions can include using a clean, good quality air filter in your ventilation system and/or a certified portable air cleaner that can filter fine particles,” the statement said.

Continue readingWildfire smoke descends on Saskatoon
Comments closed
Topic: pollutionView all posts for the topic: pollution

Trump’s EPA aims to cut pollution rules projected to save nearly 200,000 lives: ‘People will be hurt’

Published March 19, 2025

Still COVIDing Canada Posts

Published by: The Guardian
Published on:
By Oliver Milman, Dharna Noor, Aliya Uteuova

A push by Donald Trump’s administration to repeal a barrage of clean air and water regulations may deal a severe blow to US public health, with a Guardian analysis finding that the targeted rules were set to save the lives of nearly 200,000 people in the years ahead.

Last week, Trump’s Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) provoked uproar by unveiling a list of 31 regulations it will scale back or eliminate, including rules limiting harmful air pollution from cars and power plants; restrictions on the emission of mercury, a neurotoxin; and clean water protections for rivers and streams.

Continue readingTrump’s EPA aims to cut pollution rules projected to save nearly 200,000 lives: ‘People will be hurt’
Comments closed
Topic: climate crisisView all posts for the topic: climate crisis

Wildfire smoke may increase the risk of dementia, study finds

Published July 29, 2024

Still COVIDing Canada Posts

Published by: The Guardian
Published on:

A new US study has found that wildfire smoke may be worse for brain health than other types of air pollution and even increase the risk of dementia.

The findings, reported on Monday at the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference in Philadelphia, come as millions spent the weekend under air quality warnings from wildfires spewing smoke across the western US, including a huge wildfire in California that has grown to more than 360,000 acres.

At issue is fine particulate matter or PM 2.5 – tiny particles about 30 times smaller than the diameter of a human hair that can be inhaled deep into the lungs and move to the bloodstream. This pollution – from traffic, factories and fires – can cause or worsen heart and lung diseases, and the new study adds to evidence it may play some role in dementia, too.

Continue readingWildfire smoke may increase the risk of dementia, study finds
Comments closed
Topic: climate crisisView all posts for the topic: climate crisis

This wildfire season, changes are coming to better inform people about smoke hazards

Published May 20, 2024

Still COVIDing Canada Posts

Published by: The Canadian Press
Published on:
By Sonja Puzic

Last year’s record-breaking wildfire season forced Canadians to become familiar with the scale of air pollution as hazardous smoke drifted across the country.

Environment Canada’s colour-coded Air Quality Health Index, designed to help people understand health risks associated with contaminated air, was closely watched under hazy, orange skies that stretched beyond the Canada-U.S. border.

But the AQHI, measured on a scale from one to 10+, was not calculated the same way in all provinces and some people were unsure how index values applied to their daily activities.

Environment Canada hopes several changes being made this year will improve how air quality-related health risks are communicated and understood by the public.

Continue readingThis wildfire season, changes are coming to better inform people about smoke hazards
Comments closed
Topic: climate crisisView all posts for the topic: climate crisis

Risk of wildfire smoke in Ottawa low — for now: Environment Canada

Published May 13, 2024

Still COVIDing Canada Posts

Published by: Ottawa Citizen
Published on:
By Blair Crawford

Smoke from wildfires in Western Canada will soon be drifting high overhead, but it poses no health risk in Eastern Ontario, says Environment Canada.

“Taking a look at our guidance and the weather patterns this week and the way things are panning out, it doesn’t look like Eastern Ontario needs to be concerned about its air quality at this time,” Trudy Kidd, a warning preparedness meteorologist with Environment Canada, said Monday.

“At best, people might see some haze in the skies in the coming days as the forest fire smoke makes its way through and disperses aloft, but from what we can tell at this time, the particulate matter — and that’s what’s of concern when it comes to forest fires — we’re expecting it to stay aloft,” she said.

Continue readingRisk of wildfire smoke in Ottawa low — for now: Environment Canada
Comments closed
Topic: climate crisisView all posts for the topic: climate crisis

Edmonton to see smoky skies, poor air quality into Monday night

Published May 12, 2024

Still COVIDing Canada Posts

Published by: CTV News
Published on:
By Brittany Ekelund

Edmontonians saw a slight improvement in the smoky skies Sunday.

The air quality index in the city had dropped from a 10 – very high risk – to a high-risk 9 by Sunday afternoon.

According to Environment Canada, wildfire smoke is harmful even at low concentrations, and residents in affected areas were told to reduce or reschedule strenuous outdoor activities and watch for symptoms such as coughing and throat irritation.

Continue readingEdmonton to see smoky skies, poor air quality into Monday night
Comments closed
Topic: climate crisisView all posts for the topic: climate crisis

Dubai climate talks focus on health as Canadian doctors warn patients already seeing impacts

Published December 3, 2023

Still COVIDing Canada Posts

Published by: CBC News
Published on:

A group of Canadian doctors are in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, this week at COP28 to raise awareness about the impacts climate change is having on the health of patients and the overall health-care system.

Continue readingDubai climate talks focus on health as Canadian doctors warn patients already seeing impacts
Comments closed
Topic: air pollutionView all posts for the topic: air pollution

Air Pollution Is Really Dangerous, Even More New Evidence Shows

Published November 23, 2023

Still COVIDing Canada Posts

Published by: Scientific American
Published on:
By Jesse Greenspan

PM2.5 particles are tiny enough to enter the bloodstream and lodge in the lungs, where they contribute to respiratory problems such as asthma. They also can prompt heart attacks and strokes. And they have been linked to diabetes, obesity and dementia and may exacerbate COVID.

Continue readingAir Pollution Is Really Dangerous, Even More New Evidence Shows
Comments closed
Wildfire smoke may have contributed to thousands of extra COVID-19 cases and deaths in western U.S. in 2020The Apple Fire burns north of Beaumont, California, on July 31, 2020. Photo: Brody Hessin. Licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International license. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/deed.en
Topic: climate crisisView all posts for the topic: climate crisis

Wildfire smoke may have contributed to thousands of extra COVID-19 cases and deaths in western U.S. in 2020

Published August 13, 2021

Still COVIDing Canada Posts

Published by: Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health
Published on:

Thousands of COVID-19 cases and deaths in California, Oregon, and Washington between March and December 2020 may be attributable to increases in fine particulate air pollution (PM2.5) from wildfire smoke, according to a new study co-authored by researchers at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.

Continue readingWildfire smoke may have contributed to thousands of extra COVID-19 cases and deaths in western U.S. in 2020
Comments closed