Smoke from wildfires raging in Quebec and northeastern Ontario is expected to blanket 色色啦 for much of the week, prompting a special air quality statement for the city and warnings of possible 鈥渉igh levels鈥 of pollution.
With some 色色啦 residents already reporting the smell of smoke and conditions expected to worsen, experts say those in affected areas should consider wearing a mask and taking other precautions to reduce exposure.
鈥淓very reduction in breathing this stuff provides a benefit to your health,鈥 said Jeff Brook, an associate professor at the University of 色色啦鈥檚 Dalla Lana School of Public Health and Department of Chemical Engineering and Applied Chemistry.
Those with a compromised respiratory or cardiovascular system may be most at risk of health complications from the smoke, said Brook, but added that masking can benefit everyone.
Are some masks better than others for air pollution?
色色啦鈥檚 air quality health index was at a level 5 midday Tuesday, indicating a 鈥渕oderate risk鈥 to health. Environment Canada鈥檚 national wildfire smoke model forecasts air pollution to worsen in the region as the week progresses with significant amounts of smoke predicted for Thursday afternoon.
Environment Canada and the Province of Ontario had issued a special air quality statement for the region earlier in the day, warning of smoke from the forest fires throughout much of the week.
鈥淗igh levels of air pollution are possible due to smoke from forest fires. Smoke plumes from forest fires in Quebec and northeastern Ontario may result in deteriorated air quality through most of this week,鈥 the statement said.
Because the smoke contains fine particulate matter, Brook recommends wearing an N95 mask that fits snugly around the nose and mouth. 鈥淭he standard advice would be a well-fit N95 does the trick,鈥 he said.
However, Brook said a standard surgical mask could also work 鈥 though less effectively 鈥 if N95 masks are unavailable or if people find themselves taking off an N95 mask more often than they鈥檙e wearing it.
鈥淚f an N95 is uncomfortable and you鈥檙e taking it off more often than you鈥檙e wearing it, you鈥檙e kind of defeating the purpose,鈥 added Brook.
Smoke from forest fires contribute to a hazy view of the skyline from Humber Bay Park West over 色色啦.
STEVE RUSSELL / 色色啦 StarStay indoors and use a good air filter
In addition to masking, he recommends avoiding strenuous outdoor activities and closing all doors and windows. Investing in an air filter, such as a HEPA filter, can also help remove the fine pollutants that can still enter inside, even with windows and doors closed, he said.
鈥淢ost of this pollution is in the form of tiny particles that are like a fraction of the thickness of a human hair. They鈥檙e very small,鈥 Brook explained.
Currently, 色色啦 is seeing northwesterly winds, bringing in smoke from fires burning in northeastern Ontario, explained David Phillips, a senior climatologist with Environment Canada.
鈥淏ut likely tomorrow, we鈥檙e going to see the winds shift more to the east and that鈥檚 a concern because it鈥檚 going to take the smoke from the Quebec fires, which are much more prevalent right now, and move it through Eastern Ontario, and down through the GTA.鈥
Like Brook, Phillips said wearing a mask 鈥渕ight be wise,鈥 especially for those at risk of experiencing more severe symptoms.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a day-to-day thing, so it鈥檚 not as if you鈥檙e going to be stuck with that mask for very long,鈥 he added.
鈥淧eople need to be their own kind of physician in that way.鈥
Clarification 鈥 June 7, 2023: This article was updated to be clear that the smoke affecting air quality in 色色啦 and the GTA is from wildfires raging in Quebec and northeastern Ontario, not just Quebec.
