Montreal air quality deteriorates as Prairie wildfire smoke blankets much of southern Quebec
The Air Quality Health Index for Montreal on Friday indicates a high health risk
As wildfires continue to rage in Saskatchewan and Manitoba, travelling plumes of smoke drifted into Quebec on Friday, prompting Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) to issue warnings over air quality.
The weather agency issued an air quality statement for most of southern Quebec, including Montreal.
The statement warned of increased health risks associated with increasing smoke levels, in addition to poor visibility in certain areas.
ECCC also issued warnings for parts of northern Quebec.
Air pollution is most likely to affect people who are aged 65 and older, pregnant people, infants and young children or people with existing or chronic illnesses.
As of 8 a.m. on Friday, the Air Quality Health Index for Montreal was listed as an eight out of 10, indicating a high health risk.
The tool, developed by Health Canada and ECCC, measures the air quality in relation to your health on a scale from 1 to 10, with anything above 10 considered a very high health risk.
ECCC meteorologist Steven Flisfeder says people with respiratory illnesses like asthma, lung or heart disease should stay indoors and that the general public should take precautions too.
"You're still at risk even if you are in fairly healthy condition," he said.
"So maybe think of changing your plans, waiting until the air quality has improved to participate in outdoor activities including being out on a terrasse on a Friday evening."
Possible symptoms linked to exposure include eye, nose and throat irritation, headaches or a mild cough.
Some people might experience what ECCC described as "more serious but less common symptoms," including wheezing, chest pains or severe cough.
"If you think, you are having a medical emergency, seek immediate medical assistance."
To prevent smoke from entering your home, windows and doors should be kept closed. However, in cases when air pollution coincides with extreme heat, the priority should be to keep cool.
People who can't avoid being outdoors might want to consider wearing a respirator mask to reduce exposure to fine particles in the smoke.
Flisfeder said the smoky air is expected to clear out by Sunday.
Written by Annabelle Olivier