A smell of smoke greeted Montrealers – and a large part of Quebecers – on Sunday. Due to the forest fires, the metropolis has reached the top of the list of cities with the worst air quality in the world in the morning.
According to the IQAir site, the air quality index in Montreal on Sunday morning is 239, or “very bad for your health”. This concentration of fine particles in the air is 37.5 times higher than that recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO), according to the website.
PHOTO JOSIE DESMARAIS, THE PRESS
View of Mount Royal, Sunday morning
And the poor air quality is getting worse in the morning. Around 9 a.m., the index was 195.
After Montreal comes Kuwait, capital of Kuwait, with an air quality index of 170, then Sao Paolo, Brazil, with an index of 164.
According to data from the City of Montreal, the east of the city is the most affected with an air quality index of 415 at 7 a.m. Sunday morning. Next come the north (317), the west (257) and the city center (295).
Smog warning
Environment Canada issued a smog warning for several regions of Quebec on Sunday. This alert is in effect in particular in Montreal, Quebec City, Montérégie, Estrie, Outaouais, the Laurentians, Abitibi-Témiscamingue, Mauricie, Beauce, Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean and in certain sectors of the Côte-Nord and Nord-du-Québec.
IMAGE PROVIDED BY ENVIRONMENT CANADA
“People with lung disease [comme l’asthme] or heart disease, the elderly, children, pregnant women and people who work outdoors are more at risk of experiencing health effects from wildfire smoke,” warns Environment Canada.
Symptoms experienced due to smog
- Shortness of breath
- wheezing
- A severe cough
- Dizziness
- Chest pain
“If you have symptoms or are not feeling well, stay indoors,” added the federal agency. It is also recommended to contact a health professional if these symptoms appear.
It is also recommended to close doors and windows weather permitting, and to use a high-efficiency particulate air purifier (HEPA). If you go outside, using a properly fitted N95 mask can help limit the inhalation of fine particles.
The Mont-Tremblant Ironman 70.3 competition had to be canceled Sunday morning due to poor air quality.