Wildlife smoke has led to 'high levels of air pollution' in Toronto, Environment Canada says
CBC
Forest fire smoke from inside the province and beyond could cause high levels of air pollution in Toronto for the next several days, Environment Canada says as a special air quality statement remained in effect for the city Tuesday night.
"Smoke plumes from forest fires in Quebec and northeastern Ontario have resulted in deteriorated air quality. Poor air quality may persist through most of this week," the federal weather agency said in an updated statement Tuesday evening.
Environment Canada said air quality and visibility due to the wildfire smoke can fluctuate over short distances and can vary considerably from hour to hour.
Wildfire smoke can be harmful even at low concentrations, the agency added.
People with lung disease, such as asthma, people with heart disease, older people, children, pregnant people and those who work outside are at higher risk of experiencing health effects, the agency said.
Katrina Eyk, a senior meteorologist with Environment Canada, said a cold front Saturday could push the smoke out but that it will likely continue to drift over Ontario for most of this week.
Meanwhile, air quality remains at risk.
"It's possible that some of the smoke that is aloft over the GTA could mix down to the surface, and increase air quality values to high risk," Eyk said.
"It's best to keep out of it as much as possible, and if you can't stay home, you might need to wear a well-fitting respirator type mask."
School boards in the Greater Toronto Area said they are considering making recess indoors on Wednesday while the smoke lingers.
The Toronto District School Board said on its website that "all strenuous outdoor activities, including athletic events, planned for tomorrow and Thursday will be rescheduled or moved indoors where possible."
Outdoor recesses may continue but "schools will, if supervision levels allow, make every attempt to accommodate those who wish to stay inside or are experiencing symptoms such as coughing or throat irritation," it added.
The Toronto Catholic District School Board said in a statement on Tuesday night that it has recommended to its schools that they may wish to consider indoor recess and reschedule any outdoor activities if students and staff have respiratory conditions.
The York Catholic District School Board, for its part, has decided to hold indoor recesses all day on Wednesday at its schools.
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