Air quality alerts and interactive smoke maps show Canadians in nearly every region of the country are being affected by wildfires.
Environment Canada Air health rating Several cities were at “very high risk” Friday morning. These cities are Calgary, Edmonton, Regina and Saskatoon.
But more importantly, according to Kelsey McEwen, meteorologist for CTV’s Your Morning, the smoke is also impacting residents of British Columbia, Ontario and Quebec.
While no official warnings have been issued, Fire Smoke Canada maps show smoke billowing across the country. According to the data, only a few areas of Canada have been spared from the smoky skies: central Ontario, northern Nunavut, Prince Edward Island and most of Yukon.
The map also shows smoke rising across the United States, particularly in areas near the Canadian border.
Similar mapping from Environment Canada shows smoke is expected to be worse in The Prairies and the Quebec-Labrador border.
The Environment and Climate Change Canada graphic shows smoke across Canada.
Smoke from wildfires can travel thousands of kilometres from the fire site, Environment Canada says, meaning it can affect areas far from the actual fire site.
“(Fine) particles are invisible to the human eye and have been associated with various health effects,” the weather agency said.
“There is no known safe level of exposure for some of these pollutants. This means that smoke can harm your health, even at very low levels.
Symptoms and health impacts range from headaches, mild coughing and sinus irritation to dizziness, wheezing, chest pain and asthma attacks. Shortness of breath and heart palpitations are possible, and in some severe cases, exposure can cause stroke, heart attack, reproductive and developmental impacts and even premature death, Environment Canada warns.
Some are more affected than othersincluding older people, people with chronic health conditions, those who work outdoors, and babies and young children.
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