IQAir, a Swiss air technology company says downtown É«É«À² is getting the brunt of the damage, giving the area an index score of 296 or “very unhealthy,” and brushing right up against it being hazardous for residents.
What should you do when there’s an air quality warning
É«É«À²nians are urged to reduce or reschedule strenuous outdoor activities, particularly if you’re experience a cough, runny nose, throat or eye irritation.
IQAir, a Swiss air technology company says downtown É«É«À² is getting the brunt of the damage, giving the area an index score of 296 or “very unhealthy,” and brushing right up against it being hazardous for residents.
É«É«À²nians are urged to reduce or reschedule strenuous outdoor activities, particularly if you’re experience a cough, runny nose, throat or eye irritation.
People aged 65 and older, pregnant people, infants and young children, people with an existing illness or chronic health conditions and people who work outdoors are most at risk, Environment Canada says, adding that more serious symptoms such as chest pain or severe coughing should be treated as medical emergencies.
A view of the downtown É«É«À² skyline shrouded with smoke amid declining air quality in the city.Â
R. J. Johnston (É«É«À² Star photo)
If it comes down to choosing between avoiding smoky air or staying cool during an extreme heat event, the agency says people should prioritize keeping cool.
ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW
Beyond staying indoors, keeping the windows closed and using air filters, people can mask up if they’re headed outside, according to the city.Â
Heat wave
É«É«À² is still battling a heat warning Monday with temperatures expected to top out at 31 C, with a humidex of 40, .
The city says they have more than 500 cooling spaces around É«É«À² for anybody looking for relief. The heat wave has extended hours at the North York, Scarborough, Etobicoke, York and East York civic centres, with all of them now closing at 9:30 p.m. The Metro Hall lobby area is also open 24/7 during the heat wave.Â
Many city pools have extended their hours as well, staying open until 11:45 p.m., a spokesperson told the Star.Â
Allie Moustakis is a staff reporter, working out of the Star’s
radio room in É«É«À². Reach her via email: amoustakis@thestar.ca
Kristjan Lautens is a staff reporter, working out of the Star’s
radio room in É«É«À². Reach him via email: klautens@thestar.ca
Conversations are opinions of our readers and are subject to the Community Guidelines. É«É«À² Star does not endorse these opinions.
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