The summer of 2023 has seen persistent spikes in dangerous air quality levels across the United States as smoke from ongoing wildfires in Canada is blown south. In early June, the smoke in New York City was so bad it officially had the worst air quality of any major city in the world, according to air quality technology company IQAir. Later in June, much of the Midwest was blanketed by a dangerous haze of air pollution.
This extreme fire event and its long smoke trail indicate a much larger and worrying trend: Wildfires are getting worse, lasting longer, and occurring more frequently, primarily due to climate change.
So, how can you stay safe in America’s smoke-filled future? Follow here for Vox’s coverage of how to interpret the Air Quality Index, how to protect your health as AQI rises, and possible solutions to air pollution threats in the US.
If you can’t breathe well, neither can your pet
Humans aren’t the only ones breathing in deadly, dirty air this week.
Pets — animals who often have indoor sanctuary — may still have to venture outside when wildfire smoke comes to town. Dogs need their outdoor bathroom breaks, and don’t have the protection of masks, like we do. And if living in poorly sealed buildings without air filters, other pets like cats, rabbits, guinea pigs, and birds, too, can suffer from unhealthy air.
How to make your indoor air better when it’s smoky outside
When the outdoor air hangs thick with wildfire smoke, indoor air gets increasingly foul, too.
That’s because the air quality inside buildings is a direct reflection of outdoor air quality, said Ian Cull, an environmental engineer and air quality expert based in Chicago. Few buildings (with the notable exceptions of some health care and laboratory settings) are hermetically sealed to prevent them from sharing any air with the outdoors. So people breathing air inside eventually end up breathing whatever’s on the outside.
Why is eastern Canada on fire — and when will the smoke clear?
East Coasters finally understand what it’s like to live in California.
Earlier this week, a giant cloud of wildfire smoke from Canada wafted into New York City, Boston, and other eastern metropolises, engulfing skylines and putting millions of people at risk from air pollution. On Tuesday evening, Wednesday, and Thursday morning, NYC had the worst air quality of any major city in the world.
Smoky air puts everyone at risk — but it’s worse for some
When wildfires send billows of smoke into the air for days on end, people even thousands of miles downwind often notice the change in air quality in their eyes and airways — and it’s a big strain on health.
“Particles, gases, volatile organic compounds in the air can cause inflammation in everyone,” said Daniel Croft, a pulmonologist and air quality researcher at the University of Rochester Medical Center in upstate New York. “This is a health risk for all people.”
We can’t just run away from wildfires
It has been yet another breathtaking year for disasters. While Hurricane Ida drenched a path from New Orleans to New York, leaving flooding and power outages in its wake, wildfires forced thousands to evacuate and sent choking smoke across the US.
Such disasters are a fact of life in many parts of the country, and the risks are only growing as human activity continues to warm the planet. For those living in the West within reach of devastating blazes, that raises a difficult question: Should I stay or should I go?
