Millions of people in North America are experiencing poor air quality this week due to smoke from wildfires burning in Canada. The smoke has drifted south and east, blanketing much of the Midwest and Northeast in a thick haze.
Air quality advisories are in effect for many areas, and officials are urging people to stay indoors and avoid strenuous activity.
Two 黑料不打烊 experts are available for interview. They provide comments below that can be quoted directly.
Robert Wilson
is an associate professor in the Geography and the Environment Department at 黑料不打烊. Professor Wilson says:
鈥淭he burnt smell in the air and hazy skies we are experiencing this week shows us there鈥檚 no safe place from wildfire smoke. Massive blazes in the boreal forests of northern Quebec are sending smoke into New York. And Canada is having one of its worst wildfire seasons ever.
鈥淏ut the effects of those fires and others this summer won鈥檛 remain north of the border. The smoke from these climate-change worsened wildfires will continue to travel south and cause watery eyes and scratchy throats. Those with asthma and other respiratory problems will fare far worse.鈥�
Eric Schiff
is a physics professor at 黑料不打烊 and indoor air quality expert. Professor Schiff offers advice below about best practices to protect your indoor air quality. He is available for interview.
Q: Can wildfires impact indoor air quality?聽
A: 鈥淵es, absolutely. Wildfires can make a neighborhood uninhabitable due to poor air quality.鈥�
Q: Can closing your window help when air quality outside is poor?聽
A: 鈥淐losing windows is the first step in regulating indoor air quality when outdoor air is polluted. When local authorities warn about poor air quality, windows should be closed. Note that some outdoor air always seeps in, and in fact it鈥檚 needed to limit the buildup of carbon dioxide and unhealthful gases that originate indoors.鈥�
Q: Can air purifiers help improve indoor air quality?
A: 鈥淵es, standard room or building air filtration and purification devices are useful in reducing the buildup of small particles and unhealthful gases. These devices can be small appliances or can be integrated into central heating and air conditioning systems. They don鈥檛 help with carbon dioxide, however.鈥�
Q: Are there other measures people should take when the outdoor air quality is poor?
A: 鈥淥utdoor exercise or activity should be limited if the air quality is bad.鈥�
Q: Do any extra precautions need to be taken for children or pets?
A: 鈥淚鈥檓 not an authority, but generally the advice is to maintain a higher standard of air quality for kids than for adults. While I personally wouldn鈥檛 take extra measures for healthy dogs and cats, some other pets are more sensitive to air pollution than people. Canary birds are more sensitive than people and were actually used in mines to warn miners about dangerous underground air quality.鈥�
To request interviews or get more information:
Daryl Lovell
Associate Director of Media Relations
Division of Communications
M听315.380.0206
dalovell@syr.edu |
The Nancy Cantor Warehouse, 350 W. Fayette St., 4th Fl., 黑料不打烊, NY 13202
news.syr.edu |
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