Maryland is currently contending with poor air quality as wildfire smoke from Canada drifts into the Mid-Atlantic region. With more than 100 fires burning across Canada, including dozens of out-of-control blazes in western Ontario, the resulting smoke has impacted various parts of the United States, including the Great Lakes, the Midwest, and the Northeast. Meteorologists have noted that northwesterly upper-level winds are directing the smoke toward the Baltimore area, where residents may notice an orange tint or hue to the sunrise or sunset as the smoke becomes more dense or concentrated.
Maryland Department of the Environment Code Orange alert
The Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) issued a Code Orange air quality alert for most of the state on Thursday. A Code Orange designation is considered unhealthy for sensitive groups, such as children, older adults, and people with respiratory issues. Experts warn that conditions are expected to worsen through Friday, and residents are urged to take precautions to protect their health.
Environmental Protection Agency Air Quality Index scale
To determine the quality of the air, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) uses the Air Quality Index (AQI), a scale that spans from 0 to 500. A higher AQI value signifies a higher level of air pollution and a greater health risk. The number is based on several common air pollutants, including particle pollution and ground-level ozone, which are two of the pollutants most likely to affect the lungs. The scale is divided into six color-coded levels, ranging from green (good) to maroon, as pollution and health concerns increase. While official EPA guidance classifies any AQI above 300 as hazardous, extreme situations—such as those reported in Detroit, where the AQI reached 754 on a Thursday morning—can cause the scale used by trackers like IQAir to climb past 500.
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Mehak Gandhi, MD, with Hartford HealthCare Medical Group, notes that the AQI helps the public understand the likelihood of outdoor air affecting their health. A higher number means there is more pollution in the air and a greater chance of experiencing respiratory symptoms,
Gandhi stated. Poor air quality can cause a litany of symptoms, including coughing, wheezing, stinging eyes, headaches, chest pain, runny nose, and more. It can also cause chronic inflammation.
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Doctors and health officials recommend that residents stay indoors as much as possible. For those who must travel, officials advise using the air recirculation feature in vehicles to prevent smoky air from entering the cabin. WBAL-TV 11 Weather Meteorologist Alena Lee has advised those who suffer from allergies or have respiratory illnesses to pay close attention to the forecast as the situation plays out, noting that the region will also experience hot and humid conditions in the coming days.
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Dave Sakin of Value Remodeling workplace safety adjustments
Practical adjustments are being made in local workplaces as well. Dave Sakin, owner of Value Remodeling, a deck, roofing, and siding remodeling business, explained that he monitors weather conditions to protect his crews. We look closely at the weather and we have a good idea what it is,
Sakin told WBAL-TV 11 News. If it looks like it's going to be too warm, I discuss with them, 'If you don't feel well, leave.'
Sakin noted that this rule also applies to poor air quality: Nothing we're doing is an emergency, so it's best for them not to have an emergency.
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