Canadian Wildfires Causing Poor Air Pollution in NYC
Wildfire season has officially started in Canada and is causing severe air pollution in parts of the United States. The fires started on May 29th in Ottawa, Canada. There have been approximately 423 fires, and 246 of them are out of control, according to the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Center.
As the wildfires continue to rage across Canada, the effects are being felt as far south as New York City. The smoke from the fires has been carried by the wind which has led to hazy and unhealthy air quality in the city. Residents are being urged to stay indoors and minimize their time outside, especially those with respiratory issues.
On Tuesday evening, New York City started to see an orange haze in the sky, which looked alarming. New York City has the poorest air quality in the world as of Wednesday, June 7th. New York City is about 336 miles away from the fires and is affecting them harshly.
“If exposed to the current air quality in NYC for 24 hours, it would be equivalent to smoking about 6 cigarettes,” Colin McCarthy, an atmospheric science student who provides extreme weather updates, shared on Twitter.
On Tuesday, the New York Yankees were playing the Chicago White Sox in the severe haze, as seen in the left photo. The game was not postponed, but Wednesday’s game was due to the air pollution that has since gotten worse, as seen in the right photo.
The wildfires have been raging since June and have caused a significant amount of smoke to be released into the atmosphere. As a result, the air quality in New York City has been deteriorating, with residents experiencing respiratory issues and other health problems. This highlights the global nature of air pollution and how events happening in one part of the world can have far-reaching consequences.
The impact of the air pollution in New York City that was caused by Canada’s wildfires is a clear indication of the need for stronger international cooperation to address climate change and its effects. While governments around the world have taken steps to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and other sources of air pollution, events like the Canada’s wildfires remind us that more needs to be done to protect our planet and our health. As individuals, we can take action by reducing our own carbon footprint and supporting policies that lead to a more sustainable and healthier future for all.