Wildfires in Canada cause dangerous air quality in Northeastern US

Smoke from ongoing wildfires in Nova Scotia, Canada, has traveled south and caused cities in the Northeastern US to become engulfed in smoke. The smoke has turned the sky hazy and deep orange, making it difficult for people to see landmarks and buildings. The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation has issued an air quality health advisory through Thursday, citing “unhealthy” quality levels, which have now been deemed the worst of any city in the world, according to IQAir, a Swiss monitoring service. Ginger Zee, Sam Champion, and Al Roker, meteorologists based in New York, have issued warnings to ABC and NBC viewers, advising them to remain inside or to mask up should they step outdoors.

Climate change and human activity contributing to wildfires

The topic of climate change has been thrust into the conversation, with many blaming climate change inaction as partly to blame for the frequency and severity of wildfires in the US. Ginger Zee explained in a video that “85% of wildfires in the US are started by humans.” While some wildfires are caused purposefully to protect forests, our planet’s heightened greenhouse gas emissions can intensify them by making heat and drought last longer. The smoke crisis is concerning, with approximately 90 million people in the US being impacted by the smoke. Especially concerning is small particulate matter, which NBC News describes as “air that measures less than 2.5 micrometers in diameter” that is small enough to be breathed so deep into the lungs, that it can enter the bloodstream. As a result, wildfire smoke can cause irritation to the eyes, nose, throat and lungs, plus an increased risk of a respiratory infection.

The Northeastern US is currently experiencing dangerous air quality due to smoke from ongoing wildfires in Nova Scotia, Canada. The smoke has caused cities to become engulfed in smoke, making it difficult for people to see landmarks and buildings. Meteorologists have issued warnings to ABC and NBC viewers, advising them to remain inside or to mask up should they step outdoors. Human activity is partly to blame for the frequency and severity of wildfires in the US, and the smoke crisis is concerning, with approximately 90 million people in the US being impacted by the smoke.