air quality

Poor air quality caused by Canadian wildfires

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A poor air quality alert is in effect for Connecticut Tuesday due to smoke from the Canadian wildfires.

Experts with the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection say more than 160 fires are burning in Quebec and most are out of control.

It's contributed to elevated levels of P-M2.5, which are fine particles in our air. DEEP said the fine particulate matter levels are expected to exceed Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups levels.

“They're a fraction of the diameter of a human hair. And the health impact is when you breath these particles in, they really go deep into your lungs, and they don't come out quite as easily," said DEEP Acting Chief Bureau of Air Management Paul Farrell.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) says the smoke will linger for a few days.

People can expect hazy skies, reduced visibility and a burning wood odor as smoke spreads over the region, according to the EPA.

And residents in Connecticut are noticing the smoky conditions.

“My wife says don't look at it. Because you'll ruin your retina. Don't stare at it. But it was eerie. It was very eerie. Yeah. Red. And the smoke. I don't know. I've never seen a sun rise like that," said Dave Bobowski, of Hartford.

"It looks gloomy," said Shailesh Shah, of Hartford.

'I think the weird thing is like it's cloudy, like it's foggy, but it's not fog," added Meghan Tavernier, of West Hartford.

Residents could experience a headache, fatigue, nausea, shortness of breath or a slight cough. It should dissipate with time, but it'll be worse for those with pre-existing conditions.

Anyone with pre-existing medical conditions should remain indoors with windows closed. The EPA also says you should circulate indoor air with a fan or air conditioner.

"It doesn't have to be just a respiratory condition. But obviously people with asthma, COPD, bronchitis can be greatly affected by even these small particles over an extended period of time," said Dr. James Mazo, the Regional Executive Director of Occupational Health and Safety at Trinity Health New England.

Exposure to these pollution levels can affect a person's lungs and heart, causing breathing problems, which in turn could aggravate asthma and other pre-existing lung conditions, according to environmental officials.

"If you can smell smoke in the air, then levels are probably high enough to affect sensitive individuals," DEEP said.

Environmental officials said active children and adults, and people with impaired lung function or cardiovascular disease, should limit prolonged outdoor exertion.

The EPA says that the probability of unseasonably warm weather is predicted to increase due to climate change. More than 160 fires are burning across Quebec, most of which are out of control, according to DEEP.

For the most up-to-date information on air quality alerts, click here.

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