CLEVELAND, Ohio — The Cleveland Department of Health issued a health warning late Tuesday afternoon as airborne particulate matter levels are expected to rise overnight and into Wednesday, largely due to wildfires in Canada.
Also, the Northeast Ohio Areawide Coordinating Agency has issued an air quality warning, an indication that it is forecasting “particulate matter levels to exceed” the “unhealthy” range, according to the Department of Health.
When air quality is in the unhealthy range, the health department recommends “people with heart or lung conditions, older adults, children and adolescents to avoid strenuous outdoor activities or to keep outdoor activities short.”
The Cleveland-Akron-Lorain area recorded a 114 in the Air Quality Index of AirNow.gov. from Tuesday, 6 p.m. A score of 101 to 150 means it is harmful to sensitive groups, while a score of 151 to 200 is considered unhealthy and at risk of health effects for a portion of the population.
- Continue reading: Skip your morning jog: Cleveland doctor says smoke from wildfires reaches harmful levels
Meanwhile, the cities of Chicago and Milwaukee on Tuesday experienced what was described as the worst air quality in the world as a result of smoke buildup from Quebec wildfires. According to federal data, Chicago at times had an air quality index of 228, considered “very unhealthy,” while Milwaukee had 221 AirNow.com monitoring station.
You can monitor the EPA’s local air quality and fire and smoke map by going to airnow.gov.
The Cleveland Department of Public Health stated that “individuals who are particularly sensitive to the effects of elevated pollutants, including those with pre-existing respiratory problems such as asthma or heart disease, should consider contacting their doctor.”
Other suggestions from the department include using public transportation, conserving fuel, limiting outdoor combustion, minimizing use of indoor sources that produce particulates, and using indoor air purifiers.
Peter Krouse covers the environment for cleveland.com and The Plain Dealer. Go Here for more of his stories.
“Travel aficionado. Twitter scholar. Writer. Extreme coffee guru. Evil pop culture fanatic.”