State officials have issued a statewide air quality alert for Wednesday, July 15, because of increased levels of fine particulates from wildfire smoke billowing from blazes in Ontario, Canada, and Minnesota.
As of July 14, there were 800 active wildfires scattered across Canada, according to the Canadian Wildland Fire Information System, with several in Ontario, CAN, mainly in the southwest and southeast regions of the providence.
Air quality readings are forecast to be especially unhealthy in the Upper Peninsula on Wednesday, July 15, according to AirNow.
The air quality levels could rise into unhealthy for sensitive groups (orange) or unhealthy (red). Residents are urged to take safety precautions to protect their health, especially people with pre-existing health issues, children and seniors.
Although Michigan’s ozone season generally runs between the warmer months of March and October, particle pollution from sources like power plants, vehicle emissions and industry can reach unhealthy levels year-round. Some of these pollutants are so small, PM2.5, they can be inhaled into your lungs and can even enter your bloodstream with serious health consequences. Other sources of particle pollution include unpaved roads, construction sites and wildfire smoke, like the spate of unhealthy air days Michiganders experienced in the summer of 2023 when Canadian wildfires darkened Detroit’s skyline.
Michigan’s current air quality
The map below displays the current air quality at monitoring sites in the U.S., Canada and Mexico. Air monitoring sites are color-coded based on the pollutant (ozone or particulate matter) with the highest value. Particles that are less than 10 micrometers and 2.5 micrometers in diameter are called PM10 and PM2.5, respectively.
An AQI of 50 or below means the current air quality is good. The shaded areas of the map show the approximate boundaries where air quality is available and listed as anything other than good. The information is updated hourly.
Air Quality Index guidelines (ozone and particle pollution)
Some people are more sensitive to air pollution because of their age or health. People who are active or work outdoors are also at higher risk when the air quality is poor. Health concerns related to poor air quality may include difficulty breathing, coughing or wheezing and more serious health effects such as lung damage, asthma attacks, heart attacks and stroke.
Here’s how to interpret the Air Quality Index values, according to the U.S. EPA:
For more information about air quality, visit AirNow.gov.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Michigan air quality map: Check if it’s bad today in your area
Reporting by Sarah Moore and Kristi Tanner, Detroit Free Press / Detroit Free Press
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Sarah Moore and Kristi Tanner, Detroit Free Press | USA TODAY Network
