Smoke dissipates in Calgary for now, but health concerns linger

During a summer punctuated by bouts of hazy, orange-tinged skies, wildfire smoke is taking a toll on the health of some Calgarians.

Environment and Climate Change Canada's air quality health index shows the risk level had dropped to three, or low, by Tuesday at 11 a.m. The latest special air quality statement, which had been issued Thursday morning, was no longer in effect.

But it's unclear how long the reprieve will last in one of Calgary's smokier summers.

"It has been a pretty historic fire year, across Canada," said Samantha Mauti, a meteorologist with Environment Canada.

"Generally, it's been pretty smoky through a lot of Alberta."

• If you think it's been a lot smokier in Calgary in recent summers — you're right
• Summer of smoke among the worst on record for Alberta's biggest cities

According to Mauti, Calgary has already surpassed the number of smoke hours reported for the entire 2022 wildfire season. The city logs smoke hours when the Calgary airport reports a reduction in visibility due to smoke.

As of Monday, Calgary had logged 258 smoke hours. Last year, 123 hours were reported during the entire season, from May to September.

Several other recent years have seen high levels of smoke:

• 2021 — 426 smoke hours.
• 2018 — 450 smoke hours.
• 2017 — 315 smoke hours.

Health Impacts

Dr. Charles Wong, a Calgary ER physician, said he's seen smoke-related complications in people with lung disease in previous summers, but not quite like this.

"I think it's fair to say this year has been significantly worse than I've seen at least in my career," said Wong, who is also the medical director for urgent care centres in the Calgary zone and has worked in emergency medicine in the city for nine years.

"Anecdotally, we are definitely seeing an increased number of visits for pulmonary or lung complications from people who are known to have asthma or COPD, also called chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.… These patients are coming in, in higher numbers and with higher severity of illness."

Wong said people with lung disease can get very sick, very quickly.

"For some people, it can be a life-threatening problem."

• Boy, 9, died of asthma attack made worse by wildfire smoke, parents say

Older adults, children, pregnant people, those with heart and lung disease and people who work or play sports outside are all at higher risk, according to Alberta Health.

And Wong is concerned about what these unusual smoke levels could mean for everyone in the long run.

"The problem is we don't understand the long-term implications of breathing significant volumes of smoke for hours to days to weeks will be when we get older," he said.

"The increased frequency and longevity and persistence of this problem is worrisome, from my point of view."

According to Wong, vigilance is key.

"I think we've become desensitized over time to these numbers," he said of the air quality health index.

"Speaking for myself and my family, if the number is six or above, we don't go outside. And that definitely entails some uncomfortable decisions and sacrifices."

If you do have to go outdoors when smoke levels are high, Envrionment Canada recommends a well-fitted respirator-style mask.

As of 6 a.m. Tuesday, Environment Canada was forecasting air quality levels to remain low (three) through Wednesday night.