The smoky haze which has been blanketing the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) over the past few days will get worse by Thursday, Environment and Climate Change Canada said.
The haze that continued to hit on Wednesday came, coincidently, as Canada marked Clean Air Day. The day is designed to recognize the importance of good air quality to health, the federal government said.
Environment Canada said the Air Quality Health Index (AQHI) is forecast to increase to nine on Thursday from seven on Wednesday. A higher AQHI indicates worse air quality, with 10 plus being the worst level on the scale.
Trudy Kidd, a warning preparedness meteorologist with the agency, told Humber News that wind is currently blowing from Quebec, bringing wildfire smoke from that province into the GTA.
However, Kidd said the GTA can look forward to getting a breath of fresh air by the weekend.
“When a low pressure system comes in, we are going to get a change of wind direction,” Kidd said. “I can see that there is likely going to be a low pressure system arriving in southern Ontario on the weekend.”
Toronto Public Health said in an email statement that individuals should be aware of their own sensitivity to air pollution, taking into account their age, preexisting health conditions, level of outdoor activity, and personal experience.
“Exposure to air pollutants can cause a range of symptoms, including irritated eyes, increased mucus production, coughing, and difficulty breathing,” the public health agency said.
Seniors, infants and young children, pregnant people, people who work outdoors, and people with preexisting health conditions are all being advised to take extra precautions.
Jeffrey R. Brook, an associate professor at the Dalla Lana School of Public Health of the University of Toronto, said aside from those with chronic respiratory problems like asthma, people with heart conditions should also pay attention to the risks.
“Air pollution can trigger heart attacks,” Brook said, “especially people who just are recovering from a heart attack in the past, but not fully recovered yet.”
People can consider wearing a mask when they are outdoors, even if it is not a N95 respirator, he said.
“As for air pollution, we know that every reduction is a benefit.”
Brook said aside from the health impacts, people should also remember that air pollution from wildfires can be a long-term problem in the making.
“We are seeing fires all across the country,” he said. “The conversation here needs to be about climate change and getting serious immediately because this is the new normal for a while,” he said.