Torontonians are already sweltering through hot, humid weather in the middle of an ongoing heat wave, and now they have another health concern to contend with. On Wednesday morning, IQAir ranked Toronto as having the worst air quality of any major city it tracks worldwide.
Early this morning, IQAir’s live global ranking placed Toronto at No. 1 on the list, with a U.S. Air Quality Index reading of 192. That falls within the “unhealthy” category, meaning some people might experience negative health effects. Toronto’s reading was even higher than the AQI of 177 that placed the city second in the world for poor air quality last July, right behind Baghdad!
IQAir’s hourly ranking compares readings from more than 100 major cities and can change throughout the day. As of publication, Toronto ranks ahead of Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo, which recorded an AQI of 163, followed by Dubai at 142, Delhi at 139 and Jerusalem at 135 (and Toronto is the only North American city in the top 10).
The IQAir warning aligns with other notices. Early this morning, Environment and Climate Change Canada issued an orange air-quality warning for Toronto, noting that smoke from wildfires in northwestern Ontario was causing “very poor air quality and reduced visibility” across the city. As of 9:00 am, Toronto’s Air Quality Health Index (AQHI) reached 10+, classified as “very high risk”, which is the highest level on the scale.
“Conditions may improve Friday morning,” the agency added, advising that Torontonians limit their time outdoors. People more likely to be affected by wildfire smoke, including adults aged 65 and older, pregnant people, infants/young children and those with existing illnesses or chronic health conditions, should avoid strenuous outdoor activities.
“[People] may experience mild and common symptoms such as eye, nose and throat irritation, headaches or a mild cough. More serious but less common symptoms include wheezing, chest pains or severe cough,” the advisory stated.
Anyone experiencing severe symptoms, such as wheezing or chest pain, is urged to seek immediate medical attention.
To reduce exposure to smoke, the agency recommends that people close their windows and doors while indoors and use HEPA-certified air purifiers or high-quality filters in home HVAC systems.
If you have to go outside, avoid strenuous physical activity (especially sports or exercise) and wear a well-fitted N95 or respirator mask.
As always, check up on those around you, especially vulnerable neighbours or family members.