air quality worsens again from Canadian wildfires - Detroit Free Press

Detroit air quality worsens again from Canadian wildfires

Detroit once again experiencing unhealthy air quality due to Canadian wildfire smoke
Kylie Martin

After a week of good-to-moderate air quality, Detroit’s air quality index (AQI) has jumped back up to unhealthy numbers.

As of Saturday afternoon, Detroit’s air quality index was 134, according to AccuWeather, resulting in an unhealthy air quality classification.

Poor and unhealthy air quality ratings are most likely to be felt by sensitive groups, occasionally causing difficulty breathing and throat irritation even for healthy individuals.

According to the National Weather Service, the recent increase is due to the Canadian wildfires as the smoke continues to drift south. Canadian wildfires also contributed to unhealthy air quality earlier this month and in late May.

Detroit's primary pollutant is PM2.5, fine particulate matter that can be inhaled and cause aggravated asthma and difficulty breathing.

According to the National Weather Service, poor air quality from low-level smoke can be expected for the next 48 hours before conditions improve.

Meanwhile, as much of southeast Michigan, including Ann Arbor, experienced a decline in air quality, the rest of the state — barring parts of the southern Upper Peninsula, near Wisconsin — saw the opposite, with healthier air quality levels as of Saturday afternoon.

Detroit's weather forecast for the coming week looks hot and sunny, with highs in the 80s and lows in the upper 50s to lower 60s.

Steps to take when air is poor

IQAir, a Swiss air quality technology company, recommends taking the following steps when air quality in your area is poor:

- Wear a mask if you need to be outdoors.
- Run an air purifier if you have one.
- Close your windows to avoid dirty air getting in your house.
- Avoid outdoor exercise.