How to protect yourself from the bad air caused by Canada's wildfires
[June 05, 2025]
By CALEIGH WELLS
Plumes of smoke are blanketing large swaths of the U.S. and parts of
Europe, which presents risks for those breathing it.
The Midwest, Northeast and Great Lakes regions of the U.S. have “very
unhealthy” air quality, according to the Environmental Protection
Agency, and experts say people should take precautions.
What counts as bad air?
The EPA's Air Quality Index converts all pollutant levels into a single
number. The lower the number, the better.
Anything below 50 is classified as “healthy.” Fifty to 100 is “moderate"
while 100-150 is unhealthy for “sensitive groups,” and anything above
150 is bad for everyone. The Air Quality Index was around 160 in many
parts of the Upper Midwest on Wednesday.
Sensitive groups include people with asthma, lung disease or chronic
obstructive pulmonary disease, said Dr. Sanjay Sethi, chief of the
division of pulmonary, critical care and sleep medicine at the
University of Buffalo's medical school.
“If you have heart or lung problems, then you’ve got to be definitely
more careful," Sethi said. "I would either avoid going outside or wear
an N95 (mask) or at least a dust mask.”
Is my air unhealthy?
Sometimes the air is bad enough to see or smell the smoke. Even if you
don't see the pollution, it can be unhealthy to breathe.
The EPA maintains a website with up-to-date, regional air quality
information. PurpleAir, a company that sells air quality sensors and
publishes real-time air quality data, has a citizen scientist, air
quality monitoring network with a more granular map of street-by-street
air quality readings.
The best way to get indoor air quality readings is to buy a monitor,
said Joseph Allen, director of Harvard University's Healthy Buildings
Program.
“You can find these low-cost, indoor air quality monitors just about
everywhere online now. They don’t cost all that much anymore,” he said.
[to top of second column]
|
Smoke from Canadian wildfires is visible at sunset in Oconomowoc,
Wis., June 1, 2025. (John Hart/Wisconsin State Journal via AP)
 What if I have to go outside?
For most people, going outside for just a short time won't have a
negative long-term impact, said Sethi.
Wearing an N95 mask, which became common during the coronavirus
pandemic, will help filter out the pollution.
“N95 is going to get rid of 90-95% of the particles,” said Jennifer
Stowell, a research scientist at Boston University’s Center for
Climate and Health. “If you have access to a mask that has a
respirator-type attachment to it, then that’s the very best.”
If you must be outside and you experience symptoms, experts say you
should head indoors or somewhere else with better air quality. Even
if you are healthy, it’s good to take precautions.
"If you start wheezing, which is like this whistling sound of the
chest, or if you’re feeling short of breath, that’s definitely more
concerning,” Sethi said.
How do I make my air cleaner?
Close the windows and turn on the air conditioner, if you have one,
setting it to circulate the indoor air. Use blankets to cover cracks
that allow outside air into your home, such as under doors.
Finally, swapping the air conditioner's filter for a MERV 13 filter
can help, though you should make sure it's installed correctly.
“If you happen to have access to an air purifier, even if it’s just
a room air purifier, try to keep it running and in the room that
you’re doing most of your activities in,” said Stowell.
All contents © copyright 2025 Associated Press. All rights reserved |
