Chicago is currently facing one of the worst air quality in the world right now. This Tuesday people of Chicago woke up to a hazy and burnt smell in the air. This is due to the current wildfires in Canada.
Current Air Quality
The air in Chicago has been labeled to be the worst in the world right now since Tuesday. This is because Chicago reached over 200 AQI which is deemed as very unhealthy. Chicago Mayor, Brandon Johnson, has warned the community to make sure children, elders, and people that suffer from lung disease stay indoors as much as possible and wear masks outside to prevent serious effects from the air.
“As we work to respond to the immediate health concerns in our communities, this concerning episode demonstrates and underscores the harmful impact that the climate crisis is having on our residents, as well as people all over the world,” stated Mayor Johnson.
What Is the Cause of This?
As we know, Canada is currently suffering from extreme wildfires. Unfortunately for the east coast, this affected those states as well. The smoke from the wildfires spread across the U.S. affecting the air quality of states such as Illinois, Wisconsin, New York, and some others.
NASA said Monday that the fire has now spread all over the Atlantic. according to the EU’s Copernicus Atmospheric Monitoring Service, the Canadian wildfires so far have shown no signs of slowing down any time soon. This means the air quality in the US can worsen.
How To Stay Prepared
Any AQI of 200 and above affects everyone, so keep in mind that not being sensitive to air pollution, does not mean it can’t harm you when it is deemed very unhealthy or even hazardous. In order to stay healthy and avoid any harmful effects from the air some things that one can do is to get an air filter in the house, Use masks outside, and avoid having doors and windows opened. Stay safe during this unhealthy time.
Written by Erika P. Cano Peralta
Sources:
New York Times: Smoky Air From Canadian Wildfires Blankets Midwestern Skies
CBS News: Chicago has the worst air quality in the world due to Canadian wildfire smoke
Top and Featured Image Courtesy of arianravan Flickr Page – Creative Commons License
Inset Image Courtesy of Ricardo Faria Flickr Page – Creative Commons License
