Whati and immediate surrounding areas were affected by heavy smoke and poor air quality this morning and into the evening. As the day progressed, Environment Canada has issued more air quality alerts for the the North Slave, South Slave and Dehcho regions.
The Air Quality Health Index ratings show that a number of communities in the territories are experiencing poor air quality conditions due to wildfires.
Smoke from wildfires continues to impact air quality at sites across the territories and across the country as smoke drifts to communities further North.
Online maps (https://firesmoke.ca/) show real-time smoke conditions drifting further North.
The Air Quality Health Index ratings show that the community of Whati is experiencing poor air quality conditions due to wildfires.
Indicator readings for Whati this morningng showed air quality of Levels 10+. Under these level conditions, the recommendation is to avoid outdoor activities.
“Reduce or reschedule strenuous activities outdoors, especially if you experience symptoms such as coughing and throat irritation. Avoid strenuous activities outdoors. Children and the elderly should also avoid outdoor physical exertion,” advises the recommendation on the air quality map and health index.
The Air Quality Health Index (AQHI) is a scale from 1 to 10+ which is meant to reflect air quality and its implications to health. The higher the number, the greater the health risk associated with the air quality. The Air Quality Health Index ratings associated with heightened health risks are indicated among communities where the monitors are available and have been placed, including Whati.Information about the risks of air pollution is available on Canada’s climate and environment webpages.
As the day progressed, more air quality warnings have come into effect for the North Slave, South Slave and the Dehcho.
Smoke is causing or expected to cause very poor air quality and reduced visibility in some areas through the rest of the week.
“Air quality and visibility due to wildfire smoke can fluctuate over short distances and can vary considerably from hour to hour,” says Environment Canada.
For more information on air quality and your health, please visit the Northwest Territories Department of Health and Social Services at https://www.hss.gov.nt.ca/en/services/environmental-health/air-quality.
Visit http://www.airhealth.ca for information on how to reduce your health risk and your personal contribution to pollution levels, as well as for current and forecast AQHI values.
Environment Canada advises the public to continue monitoring for alerts.
“Smoke is causing or expected to cause very poor air quality and reduced visibility in some areas through the rest of the week,” said reps with Environment Canada.
Air quality and visibility due to wildfire smoke may vary over short distances and from hour to hour.
“During heavy smoke conditions, everyone’s health is at risk regardless of their age or health status. Limit time outdoors. Reschedule or cancel outdoor sports, activities and events,” advises Environment Canada.
However, Health Canada cautions that certain people are at greater risk of experiencing health impacts due to poor air quality including seniors, pregnant people, infants and young children, people who work outdoors, people involved in strenuous outdoor exercise and people with an existing illness or chronic health conditions, such as cancer, diabetes, mental illness and lung or heart conditions.
This evening affected areas are listed as the Ft. Liard Region including Nahanni Butte – Sambaa K’e, the North and South Slave regions.
Environment Canada advises:
- When indoors, keep windows and doors closed as much as possible.
- When there is an extreme heat event occurring with poor air quality, prioritize keeping cool.
- Protect your indoor air from wildfire smoke.
- Actions can include using a clean, good quality air filter in your ventilation system and/or a certified portable air cleaner that can filter fine particles.
- If you must spend time outdoors, limit the time as much as possible.
- A well-constructed, well-fitting and properly worn respirator type mask (such as a NIOSH-certified N95 or equivalent respirator) can reduce your exposure to the fine particles in the smoke.
- Even though exposure may be reduced, there can still be risks to health.
- Check in on others who are in your care or live nearby who may be more likely to be impacted by outdoor air pollution.
Data on air quality is also available on Canada’s Purple Air webpages. GNWT’s community based air monitoring project uses Purple Air monitors and continues to post data on the territorial sites which are accessible on cell phones as well as other devices.
GNWT has air quality sensors located across the territories as part of the Small Air Quality Sensors – Community Based Air Monitoring Project.
“These sensors monitor fine particulate matter in the air from things like wildfire smoke, vehicle emissions and industrial activities throughout the year. These sensors will fill a gap in data in communities that don’t have community air quality monitoring stations. They also increase air quality data in communities where air quality is already monitored. This will provide a baseline of data to compare against the future: especially important as climate change increases the intensity of events like wildfires that can affect the air quality,” said reps from the program on the project website.
The sensors project the air quality date onto to an online real time map. Project organizers say the data is meant to help communities make decisions about staying indoors or reducing activities when the air quality is deteriorating.
