Wildfire smoke blankets suburbs, state declares Air Pollution Action Day
A dense blanket of haze covered most of the Chicago suburbs Thursday creating hazardous breathing conditions thanks to smoke from wildfires raging in Minnesota and Canada.
The air quality was so bad that by 5 p.m. Chicago was ranked the most polluted major city in the world.
An air quality alert is in effect throughout the suburbs and parts of Northwest Indiana at least through Thursday. The National Weather Service said the alert could be extended.
The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency has also declared an Air Pollution Action Day for the region, urging everyone to limit outdoor exposure.
Air quality reached the most dangerous levels in the Chicago area by midday with reporting stations in Cary, Chicago, Grayslake, Sugar Grove and Willow Springs showing air quality at “hazardous” levels in excess of 300 due to particulate matter in the air. That’s according to AirNow, a website that combines data from county, state and federal air quality agencies nationwide. The levels in Cary were reported as high as 817 at 4 p.m. Healthy levels are below 50, according to the state’s air quality index.
Fine particles known as PM2.5, which can be emitted by factories, power plants, diesel and gasoline vehicles, residential fireplaces and wildfires, are the main drivers behind Thursday’s elevated air quality. PM2.5 can harm human health and sometimes be deadly. Initially, fine particulate matter may cause a burning sensation in the eyes and nose. But because of its small size, it can settle deep in the lungs and cross into the bloodstream.
These levels are unhealthy for all individuals, and experts recommend limiting outdoor activities due to the elevated concentration of pollutants.
More than 100 wildfires are burning in Canada and Minnesota causing heavy smoke to cover much of the Upper Midwest, meteorologists explained.
The pollution from the smoke had Chicago, Detroit and Minneapolis ranked in the top 3 most polluted major cities in the world Thursday, according to an international air quality monitoring website.
Ricky Castro, meteorologist for the National Weather Service, said the haziest conditions could develop Thursday night. The forecast for Friday is uncertain, he added.
Castro said the pollutant often accumulates more in hot summer conditions when it’s not as windy. Without wind, it’s more difficult for ozone to move away from the ground and out of an area.
“Winds are what really do cause dispersion of pollutants or emissions like ozone,” Castro said. “When you don’t have winds to serve things up, they tend to get trapped.”
Some health problems may be worsened from the pollution, especially those with respiratory conditions, said Brian Urbaszewski, director of environmental health programs for the Respiratory Health Association, based in Chicago.
The pollution in the air Thursday is especially dangerous because it’s made up of PM2.5 — fine particles that are far smaller than even the width of a single strand of hair, Urbaszewski said. The hair and mucus in peoples’ noses and throats can filter out larger particles, but not necessarily tiny ones, he said.
“The problem with these really small particles is that they bypass those filters,” Urbaszewski said. “They get into the deepest portion of your lungs and from there they can get into your bloodstream and circulate throughout your body.”
When these particles are in the bloodstream, they can cause blood vessels to constrict, straining the heart, said Dr. Samer Martini, a cardiologist at Advocate Health Care in Elgin. This can increase risks of heart attacks, strokes and heart failure, he added.
Summer camps in Carpentersville and Naperville reported either changing scheduled outdoor activities to inside or canceling them all together. Naperville Park District closed Centennial Beach for the day due to poor air quality. The St. Charles Park District also closed several locations.
· Chicago Tribune staff writer Evgenia Anastasakos contributed to this report.