As of June 12, 2023, Environment Canada has issued a Special Air Quality Statement for most of Alberta. (PHOTO: Environment Canada website)

By Sarah Jones/LethbridgeNewsNOW

Special air quality alert blankets majority of Alberta

Jun 12, 2023 | 11:36 AM

CALGARY – As of June 12, Environment Canada (EC) has issued a Special Air Quality Statement for most of Alberta.

While wildfires continue to impact the country, smoke is causing poor air quality and reduced visibility at times in the southern, central and northern parts of the province.

According to EC, wildfire smoke can be harmful to everyone’s health, even at low concentrations. People are encouraged to take action to reduce their exposure.

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 and should limit outdoor activities.

Individuals experiencing shortness of breath, wheezing (including asthma attacks), severe cough, dizziness or chest pains should stay inside and contact your health care provider.

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Environment Canada is advocating that people who spend time outside wear 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. It said this can help reduce your exposure to the fine particles in smoke.

Although these fine particles generally pose the greatest risk to health, respirators do not reduce exposure to the gases in wildfire smoke.

Another thing residents can do to mitigate wildfire smoke risk is to keep indoor air clean. Some ways of doing this include keeping your doors and windows closed, using an air purifier with a High Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filter in a room where you spend a lot of time, or temporarily relocating or finding a location with clean, cool air such as a library, shopping mall or community centre.

For up-to-date information on the Special Air Quality Statement, go to the Environment Canada website.