Alberta wildfires pose health risks

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With wildfires burning near Fort McMurray and across northern Alberta and other parts of B.C., health experts are warning of the risk of poor air quality from the smoke.

Experts warn that wildfire smoke contains a mixture of dangerous gases and solid particles. Particulate matter, also known as PM 2.5, is a public health concern. Particles can be inhaled, enter the lungs and bloodstream, and damage other organs.

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Kerry Johansson of the University of Calgary and the Schneider Institute of Chronic Disease says people can protect themselves by knowing the air quality monitoring numbers and what those numbers mean.

Most weather apps provide an air quality indicator, he said. “If you have chronic lung or heart disease, or if you belong to one of the more vulnerable groups, such as pregnant women, children, the elderly or anyone with chronic conditions, you should consider changing your behavior.”

According to Johannson, it's hard to imagine air quality getting any worse than last year. “If history is any indication of the future, we may end up going through what happened with the wildfires of the past.”

Wildfire smoke is considered more toxic than regular air pollution, Johannson said, and recent literature and data have shown that exposure to wildfire smoke has both short-term and long-term risks.

“People with lung diseases like asthma often experience an exacerbation, which is a sudden worsening of breathing. High exposure to air pollution can cause cardiovascular diseases as well as some types of cancer in the long run,” he said.

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Upper-level winds control the spread of fire smoke

Opel Wuzi, regional air quality and health specialist for Health Canada, said the best way to protect yourself is to stay indoors when wildfire smoke is prevalent. “Make sure the air quality is clean and the temperature is cool when you're at home.”

Wildfires usually occur during periods of extreme heat, Woozi added.

“And when you're indoors, try not to pollute the indoor air—frying, vacuuming, smoking, burning wood—that will cause indoor air pollution,” he said.

Wuzi recommended using a portable air purifier and wearing certified N95 masks when working outdoors, taking frequent breaks to reduce exposure.

Environment and Climate Change Canada meteorologist Andy Yoon said Calgary's air quality issues are not only caused by fire smoke from within the province, but also from other parts of Western Canada.

Upper-level winds control the spread of smoke and can carry it over long distances, Yoon said. “This is how smoke from the BC wildfires last year reached eastern Canada and the eastern US.”

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It is too early to predict this year's air quality, he said.

“When smoke builds up in an area, it's unlikely to get to the ground – sometimes it does, sometimes it doesn't.” Otherwise, the air quality on the ground may still be acceptable, but you'll get very cloudy skies.”

“Our province lives with the threat of wildfires”

At a press conference on Wednesday, Alberta Premier Daniel Smith spoke about the wildfires near Fort McMurray that have forced more than 6,600 people to leave their homes.

“We are relieved to see a reduction in evacuation orders and warnings for wildfires in Grand Prairie County, but while this has occurred, the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo has issued an evacuation order for a portion of Fort McMurray in response to a wildfire burning south of Fort McMurray. city,” he said.

“As residents rush to leave their homes, I know it brings back difficult memories from the devastating fires of 2016,” the premier said, referring to the mass fires eight years ago that destroyed nearly 2,400 homes and businesses and forced 90,000 people to leave. escape.

“This evacuation is a reminder that our province lives with the risk of wildfires and other natural disasters, and let me assure you, our government will have Alberta's back when disaster strikes.”

According to the Canadian Interagency Wildfire Centre, Canada is battling 138 active wildfires. dozens were assessed as uncontrolled.

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