County communities in the Thumb and across southeast Michigan are being warned to stay inside as Canadian wildfires produce air pollutants unhealthy for citizens.
The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy has declared Wednesday June 7 and Thursday June 8 to be an Action Day for elevated levels of fine particulate in southeast Michigan counties. Pollutants are expected to be in the unhealthy for sensitive groups range with some hourly concentrations reaching the unhealthy level.
Counties affected include Midland, Bay, Huron, Saginaw, Tuscola, Sanilac, Shiawassee, Genesee, Lapeer, St. Clair, Livingston, Oakland, Macomb, Washetenaw, Wayne, Lenawee and Monroe. Smoke originating from wildfires in Quebec and Ontario, Canada are currently impacting PM2.5 concentrations at the surface across much of Michigan.
PM2.5 are tiny particles in the air that reduce visibility and cause the air to appear hazy when levels are elevated, causing irritation to the body’s respiratory system in the short-term and worsening the lungs in the long-term. It is recommended that active children and adults, and people with respiratory diseases such as asthma, should limit physical and outdoor activities .
For further information, please see the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy Air Quality Index page online.
