Wildfires burning in northern Ontario and Quebec have prompted Environment Canada to issue a special air quality statement for the London region.
As of Wednesday morning, the national weather agency says that high levels of air pollution have developed due to smoke from forest fires.
The special air quality statement is currently in effect for London-Middlesex, Elgin, Huron-Perth, Grey-Bruce, Oxford-Brant and Sarnia-Lambton.
Trudy Kidd, emergency preparedness meteorologist with Environment Canada, told Global News that the poor air quality is expected to persist into the weekend.
“We can expect these values to remain high likely into Friday or even Saturday,” she said. “We need another weather system to push through and change the wind direction in London before we get a break from the poor air quality.”
She explained that the Air Quality Index tracks three things in the air: ozone, nitrogen dioxide, and particulate matter, also referred to as PM2.5.
“It’s the forest fires that are bringing up the values of PM 2.5,” Kidd said. “Typically, in London, we see PM 2.5 values around 20, and these forest fires have driven that value up into as high as 92 at 3 a.m. on Wednesday.”
The statement from Environment Canada warns that “wildfire smoke can be harmful to everyone’s health, even at low concentrations.”
“People with lung disease, such as asthma or heart disease, older adults, children, pregnant people, and people who work outdoors are at higher risk of experiencing health effects caused by wildfire smoke,” the weather agency said.
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“If you must spend time outdoors, a well-fitted respirator type mask, such as a NIOSH certified N95 or equivalent respirator, that does not allow air to pass through small openings between the mask and face, can help reduce your exposure to the fine particles in smoke.”
The statement continued to say that these fine particles generally pose “the greatest risk to health.”
“However, respirators do not reduce exposure to the gases in wildfire smoke. It is important to listen to your body and reduce or stop activities if you are experiencing symptoms.”
The Middlesex London Health Unit weighed in on the special air quality statement, saying that London’s Air Quality Health Index is projected to reach high risk levels later Wednesday.
“Not only is our community having to deal with the smoke and bad air quality resulting from the wildfires that continue to burn, but so are many other communities in Ontario and right across the country,” said Joanne Kearon, public health physician with the health unit. “We are monitoring the situation closely and will provide updates when they are available.”
Despite growing concerns, the health unit is not recommending that outdoor activities be reduced or cancelled at this time.
In an email to Global News, the Thames Valley District School Board said that outdoor activities may continue as normal; however, students and staff should monitor their symptoms and reduce strenuous activities as required.
Additionally, “particular attention should be given to those staff and students who may have pre-existing health conditions,” the school board said.
But, Kidd said local residents might see a change in weather patterns by Sunday.
“Right now, we’re in a pretty stagnant weather pattern (but) the next time I’m seeing a shift is into the weekend,” she said. “This ridge of high pressure is going to stay until we get a low-pressure system coming into southwestern Ontario and that, to me, looks like that could happen by Sunday.
She added that by Sunday, “the winds shift will occur, hopefully bringing some much needed rain for plants and crops, and hopefully that rain also can help control this fire situation.”
Until then, the weather agency advises residents to keep indoor air clean, use an air purifier with a High Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filter, and avoid air purifiers that produce ozone.
The statement also advises residents to stop outdoor activities if they experience a “shortness of breath, wheezing, including asthma attacks, severe cough, dizziness or chest pains.”
“Stay inside if you are feeling unwell and experiencing symptoms.”
Kidd that “the special air quality advisory can be stressful for some people.”
“It’s normal to feel anxious or isolated during a smoke event. If you feel feelings a lot of stress, anxiety or depression, contact your mental health care provider for advice,” she said.
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