Smoke is still lingering throughout É«É«À² Wednesday and experts predict the skies will keep getting hazier until Friday.Â
Residents have been battling wildfire smoke that has drifted into the city this week with É«É«À² regularly jumping on-and-off the world’s worst air quality list during this latest bout.Â
Skies are clearing up but residents remain under “moderate risk” according to Those with heart and lung conditions are urged to consider rescheduling their outdoor activities and the general population is asked to watch out for symptoms such as coughing or a sore throat.
, a Swiss air technology company, warns that the haze above the city will slowly get worse until Friday morning but pollution levels are still not expected to be dangerous to the general public.Â
The company says that skies are being choked by PM2.5, a pollutant commonly found in wildfire smoke. The particles are so small they can be absorbed into your bloodstream when breathing, making it particularly harmful, according to IQAir.
É«É«À²’s PM2.5 levels Wednesday morning are 3.1 times more than what the World Health Organization recommends. Measuring stations in the Annex, downtown and the Beaches recorded the worst air quality.
Kitchener is seeing the worst of the smoke with IQAir warning that everyone there is at risk of aggravating their heart and lungs. Owen Sound, Hamilton, Sault Ste. Marie, Waterloo and London are also being hit hard though wind should blow some smoke out of these areas Wednesday afternoon.
How will the smoke affect me?
The haze might provoke mild symptoms, including eye, nose and throat irritation, headaches or a mild cough, Environment Canada said.
More serious symptoms such as wheezing, chest pains or a severe cough are less common and mean you should stop outdoor activities, the agency added, noting anyone having a medical emergency should seek immediate medical help.
The agency advised people to keep windows closed when inside and try using an air filter in your ventilation system to keep wildfire pollutants out of your home.Â
You can reduce your exposure to fine particles in the outdoor smoke by wearing a well-fitting, respirator-type mask, like a NIOSH-certified N95 or equivalent respirator, the agency said.
Environment Canada forecast for this week
Skies will be partly overcast Wednesday with a high of 28 C that feels like 35 C and a very high UV index of 8. Skies will clear at night with a low of 19 C.
Thursday will see sunshine and a daytime high of 29 C, giving way to a nighttime low of 19 C.
Friday will stay warm at 28 C but there will be a 30 per cent chance of rain. More clouds will roll in at night with a low 19 C.
With files from Elissa Mendes
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