Wildfire Smoke June 30

As of 5:00 a.m., June 30, Environment Canada continues to warn of high levels of air pollution due to smoke from forest fires is expected today and possibly into Saturday. Smoke plumes from forest fires over northeastern Ontario and Quebec has returned to the area resulting in deteriorated air quality once again.

Air quality and visibility due to wildfire smoke can fluctuate over short distances and can vary considerably from hour to hour. For more details, please consult www.canada.ca/en/environment-climate-change/services/air-quality-health-index/wildfire-smoke.html.

Wildfire smoke can be harmful to everyone’s health even at low concentrations. Everyone can take action to reduce their exposure to wildfire smoke.

• People with lung disease (such as asthma) or heart disease, older adults, children, pregnant people, and people who work outdoors are at higher risk of experiencing health effects caused by wildfire smoke. Speak with your health care provider about developing a management plan for wildfire smoke events.
• Stop or reduce your activity level if breathing becomes uncomfortable or you or someone in your care feel unwell. Contact your health care provider.
• Check Canada’s Air Quality Health Index (AQHI) and monitor your symptoms. People respond differently to smoke. Mild irritation and discomfort are common, and usually disappear when the smoke clears. Drinking lots of water can help your body cope with the smoke.
• If you must spend time outdoors, a well-fitted respirator type mask (such as a NIOSH certified N95 or equivalent respirator) that does not allow air to pass through small openings between the mask and face, can help reduce your exposure to the fine particles in smoke. It is important to listen to your body and reduce or stop activities if you are experiencing symptoms.

Dealing with smoke-filled air ingress into condominium corridors and individual suites is challenging. 

• Turning off the make-up air unit (MUA) is often the first reaction. However, reduced corridor air pressure could allow cooking (and other) odours to enter corridors and could also affect the way suite doors close.  Turning off the unit also violates property standards by-laws which require ventilation 24/7.
• Staff should consult their HVAC technician about installing improved filtration in the MUA.  Different levels of filtration are often available, including HEPA and carbon filters.  Please note that better filters cause the unit to consume more energy because the MUA works much harder to move air through the better filter.  Depending on your demographic this energy cost may be worth it if your MUA can handle the harder work.
• Another option is for affected or vulnerable residents to purchase and install a good quality air purifier in their suite.  Consumer Reports is following the air quality crisis and has tested and recommended air purifiers that do an exceptional job of removing smoke particles.  See the CR article on the Best Air Purifiers for Wildfire Smoke.   Consumer Reports recommends HEPA-based purifiers for rooms larger than 350 ft2.  Prices range all the way from $50 to over $1,000. 

Canadian prices and suppliers of the CR top 10 rated air purifiers are shown below.

Be sure be attentive to Canada’s Air Quality Health Index (AQHI), be aware of your breathing, and check on people in your care and those around you who may be more susceptible to smoke.