Image Credit: Google
As smoke and
haze from Canada's wildfires continue to engulf the Northeast, Midwest, and
South of the United States, millions of affected individuals are left wondering
when relief will come.
Unfortunately,
forecasters predict that the air pollution caused by the wildfires will persist
until the weekend, with little improvement expected until the current weather
pattern shifts.
Unrelenting
Wildfires:
The wildfires
in eastern Quebec, Canada, particularly the approximately 150 fires, continue
to ravage the region, forcing over 11,000 people from their homes.
Environment
Canada warns of worsening conditions as more smoke pours into Toronto.
So far, an
estimated 3.8 million hectares (9.4 million acres) have burned across the
provinces.
Deteriorating
Air Quality:
Data from the
US Environmental Protection Agency's Air Quality Index (AQI) indicates that
North American cities had the world's worst air quality on Thursday morning.
Conditions in
parts of the Northeast, although slightly better than the previous day, remained
unhealthy for all age groups, according to Stanford University researchers.
Impacted
Population:
Over 40 million
people in the United States reside in areas with air quality rated as unhealthy
or worse, according to the government tracking site AirNow.
The
smoke-filled skies have prompted calls from UN Secretary-General António
Guterres and US President Joe Biden to address climate change urgently and
reduce wildfire risks.
Disruptions and
Health Concerns:
The impact of
the wildfires reaches beyond air quality. In the US capital, Washington D.C.,
planned pride celebrations at the White House had to be canceled, and the
National Zoo closed its doors, moving animals indoors for protection.
New York City
experienced cancellations of outdoor sporting events, Broadway plays, and
closures of the Bronx and Central Park zoos.
Thousands of
flight delays occurred, mask-wearing resurged, and concerns about the health
effects of prolonged exposure to the poor air quality arose.
Response
Measures:
New York Governor
Kathy Hochul announced the availability of one million N95-style face masks for
the public.
Sales of N95
masks surged, with one model experiencing a 1,600 percent increase in demand.
The US has
deployed 600 firefighters to Canada to assist in wildfire containment efforts.
Laslty:
As Canada's
wildfires continue to impact North America, worsening air quality poses health
risks and disrupts daily life.
Urgent action
to address climate change and reduce wildfire risks is crucial.
Efforts to
mitigate the immediate effects of the poor air quality include distributing
face masks and deploying additional resources to support firefighting efforts.
(Courtesy:
China Daily)
0 Comments