Atlanta's Air Quality Impacted by Canada Fires Issues Code Orange Alert

Firefighters trying to take down a wildfirePhoto byPixabay

ATLANTA - Between July having one of the hottest days on Earth since 1979, and the now diminished air quality due to the Canadian Wildfires, Atlanta has been having a rough summer due to the weather conditions.

Canada has reportedly had over 4,000 wildfires since the beginning of 2023 reaching over 27 million acres. Now, the impact of these fires has made its way to the deep south.

The Air Quality Index staggered between orange and red as a Code Orange Alert was issued in parts of the state of Georgia last week. This could negatively impact groups such as the elderly, children, pregnant women, or those suffering from heart and lung conditions. This resulted in the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) putting out advisories for everyone in the impacted areas to limit outdoor activities.

A normal AQI level is anything under 100, however, Atlanta received a warning level of reaching a height of 162.

South of Atlanta, fine particulate matter concentrations (PM2.5) topped 55 micrograms per cubic meter of air. This is the cause of the most recent air quality alerts, which stated that metro Atlanta's air quality was in the orange zone last Monday and Tuesday, possibly hazardous for those most at risk.

Wildfire smoke is hazardous because it contains higher particles that can irritate the eyes, penetrate and injure the respiratory system, and exacerbate pre-existing heart and lung conditions, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

On days with poor air quality, staying inside and avoiding transportation will limit exposure to air pollution and emissions.

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