DETROIT (WWJ) - Detroit's air quality now ranks second worst on Earth due to smothering smoke from wildfires that continue to scorch our Northern neighbors.
The National Weather Service has issued an Air Quality Alert for most of Southeast Michigan beginning Wednesday, June 7th through Thursday, June 8th. The alert includes the following counties: Midland, Bay, Huron, Saginaw, Tuscola, Sanilac, Shiawassee, Genesee, Lapeer, St. Clair, Livingston, Oakland, Macomb, Washtenaw., Wayne, Lenawee and Monroe.
According to IQ Air, Detroit's air quality index (AQI) was at 164, which is 16.2 times the World Health Organization's (WHO) annual air quality guideline value.
As of 10:45 a.m., the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy had risen that value to 173 PM2.
Detroit is now the second worst polluted city on Earth behind Delhi, India.
The area's main pollutant, PM2, includes emissions from combustion of gasoline, oil, diesel fuel, and wood -- lots and lots of wood.
"Smoke originating from wildfires in Quebec and Ontario, Canada are currently impacting PM2.5 concentrations at the surface across much of Michigan," the NWS said in an alert on Wednesday morning. "The Air Quality Index is expected to range from the UNHEALTHY FOR SENSITIVE GROUPS level with some hourly concentrations reaching the UNHEALTHY LEVEL."
"It is recommended that active children and adults, and people with respiratory diseases such as asthma, limit prolonged outdoor exertion," weather experts added.
Canada's wildfire season began devastatingly early, experts said. According to the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre (CIFFC), over 8 million acres of land have been burned.
The CIFFC was tracking more than 400 active fires across the nation Monday, AccuWeather said.
In Quebec, firefighters are working against more than 150 forest fires as of Tuesday, the Associated Press reported.
Out of the 150 fires, 110 blazes are deemed "out of control" by authorities.
Hazy skies, a fiery red sun at sunset and sunrise and in some cases, a faint smell of smoke, filled the air in Southeast Michigan on Wednesday morning as Canadian wildfire smoke continued to pour into the region, AccuWeather stated.
“Smoke is made of gases and particles, the same pollutants which are responsible for poor air quality,” Dr. Boris Quennehen, an air quality scientist with Plume Labs, said.
The high PM2.5 concentrations can effect the lungs and heart of those deemed at risk such as infants, children, and older adults with preexisting conditions.
Experts at IQ Air recommend Michiganders affected by the smoke take the following actions:
• Wear a mask outdoors
• Run an air purifier
• Close your windows to avoid dirty outdoor air
• Avoid outdoor exercise
For further information, please see the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy Air Quality Index page on the internet at http://www.deqmiair.org