For at least one day, Chicago had the worst air quality of any major city worldwide on Tuesday.
Smoke billowing from Canada's worst wildfires makes the air in Chicago worse than that breathed in India's and China's largest and most historically polluted cities. Other Midwest cities, including Detroit and Minneapolis, were also among the worst.
Forecasters said the smoke was expected to gradually move south and west through Tuesday and dissipate.
Chicago experiences poor air quality from the western US wildfires every year—a result of climate change—though they usually occur well into the late summer.
“It's still early days,” said Brian Urbaszewski, director of environmental health at the Respiratory Health Association. “It's hard to imagine how big and scary this is. And that could become the new normal.”
The federal government warned that Chicago's air was “grossly unhealthy,” and local officials said residents, especially the young, old, and medically fragile, should exercise caution.
Airnow. govwhich uses the official US Air Quality Index, lists Chicago as “very unhealthy” at 2 p.m
Dr Jordan Moskoff, medical director of adult emergency services at Cook County Health, said people should avoid running outside and limit other forms of outdoor exercise that can speed up their heart rate.
Those with severe respiratory illnesses such as asthma, emphysema and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease should avoid being outside.
Even people without respiratory problems may experience discomfort or irritation from the smoke, but they may be able to go outside to do their daily tasks, says Moskoff.
“Everyone should listen to their body,” says Moskoff. “If they're outside and they start having trouble breathing or they start having a headache, or any sort of chest pain, go inside and get medical attention.”
“I always like to say, ‘What would your mother say?'” says Moskoff. “If you're playing outside and it's cloudy and your mom asks, ‘What are you doing outside?' then that probably means you should stay inside.”
Christine Cuevas, who walks her dog around Logan Square for a living, has no choice but to be outside all day in the fog. He said the air quality took a toll on him as he walked around his Northwest Side neighborhood.
“My eyes burn, my chest hurts and my lungs hurt,” Cuevas said. “You can smell the smoke in the air, how bad is that.”
Cuevas says even air has a negative effect on the payload of his feathers.
“I have one dog who is 13 years old. He sneezed non-stop, so I had to put him back in,” he said.
Governor JB Pritzker hopes this air quality problem will soon be over.
“I hope this is a very, very temporary situation. And we've seen that happen in other cities that have been hit by this,” Pritzker said. “We are not the only ones. But sadly today, it's Chicago.
Chicago Public Schools said it was moving its summer program indoors Tuesday “to reduce the risk to students and staff.”
In Portage Park, Jennifer Recendez wore a face mask to protect herself from the poor air quality as she picked up her two daughters from camp at the park.
He said he became concerned that his daughters, 7 and 5, would be spending too much time outdoors as time went on and the air quality did not improve.
“That's what I thought while I was at work, that maybe it wouldn't be the brightest idea to walk them out today, just because of the circumstances, and I know they usually spend all day outside,” Recendez said. “When I left my job I realized it was so bad outside, I didn't expect that.”
Eric Curie, who also picked up his son from day camp in Portage Park, said he was rethinking letting his son go to his usual outdoor hockey practice.
“But you have to do what you have to do, I guess,” said Curie. “If you have to go outside, you have to go outside. But if you don't have to, I think maybe try to stay indoors.
The Parks District said it was moving programs, including summer camps, indoors “as far as possible”.
The federal government warning level comes from Airnow. gov, which uses the US Air Quality Index to issue warnings. The same government index will issue warnings for “sensitive groups” throughout the summer. “Unhealthy” and “very unhealthy” readings were much rarer, health officials said.
The National Weather Service said winds Tuesday pulled smoke from Canada across Wisconsin, Michigan and parts of northern Illinois and Indiana.
The mayor's office recommends that children, youth, seniors, people with heart or lung conditions, and individuals who are pregnant avoid strenuous activities and limit their time outside.
The city is also recommending people consider wearing a mask when outside.
“As this state of insecurity continues, the city will continue to provide updates and take swift action to ensure that vulnerable individuals have the resources they need to protect themselves and their families,” Mayor Brandon Johnson said in a statement.
The Chicago skyline was obscured Tuesday by smoke from the Canadian wildfires. Air quality is expected to improve this weekend.
The American Lung Association offers six tips for people to avoid lung irritation and health complications from increasing air pollution:
Stay indoors
People living near fire-affected areas should follow the guidance of local authorities, and stay indoors to reduce breathing in smoke, ash and other pollution in the area if instructed to do so.
Protect the air in your home
Close doors, windows and fireplace dampers and preferably with clean air circulating through the air conditioner on the recirculating setting. You can watch too this video is about how to make a clean room in your home.
Watch for symptoms
Higher smoke levels in some areas can make breathing more difficult. If you have symptoms that worry you, contact your health care provider.
Take precautions for children
Extra precautions should be taken for children, who are more susceptible to smoke. Their lungs are still developing, and they inhale more air (and consequently more pollution) for their size than adults.
Don't rely on a dust mask
Regular dust masks, designed to filter out large particles, and cloth face coverings won't help. They still let smaller, more harmful particles pass through. More expensive specialty dust masks with an N-95 or N-100 filter will filter out fine particulate matter, but may not fit properly, are not made for children or adults with facial hair and are difficult for people with lung disease to use. use.
Forecasters said the smoke was expected to gradually move south and west through Tuesday and dissipate.
Tyler Pasciak LaRiviere/Sun-Times
Ask for help
The American Lung Association's Lung helpline at 1-800-LUNGUSA is staffed by nurses and respiratory therapists and is a free resource for answering any questions you have about the lungs, lung disease, and lung health, including how to protect yourself. yourself during a forest fire.
Contributors: Brett Chase, Tina Sfondeles, Fran Spielman