Which states' air quality are most impacted by Canadian wildfires? See map.
There are 59 uncontrolled wildfires and 108 controlled wildfires across Canada as of Wednesday, July 30, the country's National Wildland Fire Situation Report said on its website. To date this year, there have been 3,582 fires.
Fires have burned nearly 1.5 million acres since the start of 2025, according to the country's report.
The smoke floating over the border shared between America and Canada is now impacting air quality in states as far south as Texas, AirNow's data shows. The EPA has declared the air quality in states near the Canadian border as "unhealthy or "unhealthy for sensitive groups."
See maps and impacted states.
See map of Canadian wildfires
See map of US wildfires and smoke
Which states are most affected by the Canadian fires?
As of 9 a.m. ET on Tuesday, Aug. 5, areas in the following states are "Unhealthy for sensitive groups," according to AirNow:
Montana
Wisconsin
Michigan
Indiana
Ohio
New York
Pennsylvania
New Jersey
Connecticut
Massachusetts
Vermont
New Hampshire
Maine
People with pre-existing medical conditions, like asthma, will be more sensitive to conditions that are deemed "Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups."
"Members of sensitive groups may experience health effects," according to AirNow.
'Unhealthy' air quality
States' air quality is measured by the EPA's U.S. Air Quality Index, according to AirNow's website. Values with an index of 151 to 200 are deemed unhealthy for all.
As of 9 a.m. ET on Tuesday, Aug. 5, areas in the following states have been deemed unhealthy, according to AirNow's air quality map:
Wisconsin
Michigan
Vermont
"Some members of the general public may experience health effects," AirNow states on its website. However, "members of sensitive groups may experience more serious health effects."
To learn if your area's air quality is affected by the wildfires, visit AirNow's interactive map.
Side effects of inhaling wildfire smoke
Wildfire smoke can irritate one's eyes, nose, and throat and cause the following symptoms:
Coughing
Chest tightness
Shortness of breath
Dizziness
Fatigue
Particulate matter (PM) is one of the main components of wildfire smoke, comprised of small particles of solids or liquids suspended in the air, USA TODAY previously reported.
According to Yale Medicine, the particles can be 10 micrometers, PM 10, or as small as 2.5 micrometers, PM 2.5, and the smaller one poses a lot of health risks.
PM 2.5 is so tiny that it can easily pass people's usual defense mechanisms and go deep into their lungs. Not only can it damage lung function, but it can also pass into the bloodstream and travel to other organs.
The following is linked to exposure to the PM 2.5:
Heart attack
Stroke
Lung cancer
Decline in cognitive function
Julia is a trending reporter for USA TODAY. Connect with her on LinkedIn, X, Instagram, and TikTok: @juliamariegz, or email her at jgomez@gannett.com
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Air quality map shows US states most impacted by Canadian wildfires
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Fox News
10 minutes ago
- Fox News
How parents can get their kids ready to go back to school
Dr. Judith Joseph joins 'Fox & Friends Weekend' to share practical tips for parents on helping their kids shift into a school mindset as the fall season approaches.
Yahoo
22 minutes ago
- Yahoo
What Exactly Is Protein Water And Should You Add It To Your Routine? Here's What Experts Say
"Hearst Magazines and Yahoo may earn commission or revenue on some items through these links." Protein is a buzzy topic in the health and wellness space. More and more research is coming out about how much protein you should actually be consuming each day for the benefits, which consist of muscle synthesis, building and maintaining bone tissue, and more. (BTW, the current Recommended Dietary Allowance, or RDA, suggests eating 0.8 grams of protein per kilogram of your body weight but many experts think women should consume more than that.) Every little bit counts to up your protein intake and reach your goal. Enter: protein water. If this phrase sounds new to you, don't be intimidated—protein water is exactly what it sounds like. It's a type of water 'enhanced with some sort of supplemental protein,' says Dana White, RD, ATC, a registered dietitian and nutrition consultant specializing in sports nutrition. Meet the experts: Dana White, MS, RD, ATC, is a registered dietician and nutrition consultant specializing in sports nutrition. Sohee Carpenter, CSCS, is a fitness and nutrition coach, WH advisor, sports science PhD student, and author of Eat. Lift. Thrive. Ahead, find out everything to know about protein water, including what it is, the options, if you can drink it every day, benefits, downsides, and more. What is protein water? 'Protein water is basically water that's been infused with extra protein,' says Sohee Carpenter, CSCS, a fitness and nutrition coach, WH advisor, and author of Eat. Lift. Thrive. A lot of brands have between 10 and 20 grams of protein, and it's usually fruit-flavored, she says, adding that it's 'a really easy, convenient way to get in extra protein.' What options are available? Protein water is pretty similar to a protein shake, White says. 'Most of the products that I see have a slight boost of protein, usually from some whey-based product." There are also powders available that you can add right to your own water. Some current options include PWR Lift and Protein2o, which have whey protein. Can I drink protein water every day? 'I wouldn't say should—I would say you definitely can,' Carpenter says. It comes down to whether you actually need that protein, and when you eat it. 'What I see a lot as a dietitian is that many people consume enough protein, say, gram-for-gram based on what their needs are, but the timing of it is lousy,' White says, explaining that they might barely consume protein during the day and then have one large meal at night. 'It's much more efficient to spread out your protein,' especially for active individuals, she says. Ideally, every meal and snack has protein and adds up to your goal by the end of the day, and a protein water can certainly help you hit that target or distribute your protein better. What are the benefits of protein water? For starters, you need amino acids and protein for a variety of bodily functions, such as muscle health, immune system function, and acid-based balance, White explains. Protein water is a super convenient way to add that into your diet, and while it may not be enough of a meal or snack on its own, you can, say, pair it with a protein bar for a post-workout recovery snack. 'It's not going to solve everyone's problems in terms of protein needs, but they can certainly be an additional way to help with a protein boost here and there,' White says. Are there any downsides to protein water? There's the question of what else is in your protein drink, like a lot of sugar or an artificial sweetener that you personally might not want to consume regularly. If you want to drink one on a daily basis, weigh the pros and cons—yes, you could be consuming more protein, but you could also be 'doing yourself a disservice in another department,' White says. Also, it's not great to consume a super large dose of protein right before exercise. 'It's too slow-digesting and then you risk stomach upset or maybe just not getting those calories available for the activity,' she Protein Water Sports Drink by PWR LIFT | Berry Strawberry | Keto, Vitamin B, Electrolytes, Zero Sugar, 10g of Protein | Post-Workout Energy Beverage | 16.9oz (Pack of 12) $25.19 at Some people may have medical conditions that call for them to consume less protein, but as long as you're a healthy individual and you don't get gastrointestinal discomfort from drinking protein water, there's no concern, Carpenter says. Who should drink protein water? Everybody needs protein, so anyone can drink protein water, White says. However, if you're highly active and/or struggling with consuming enough protein through whole foods, it might be especially helpful to try protein water, Carpenter adds. Maybe you're on the go a lot, you're vegan, or you don't cook—a protein supplement or water might be good to add into your rotation. As far as how much protein water you should drink a day, one bottle is fine, White says. When shopping for protein water, know that they're not one-size-fits-all, White says. Look at the labels and consider the brand and flavor you like, and check out the other ingredients on the list as well. Get the Plan Get the Plan Get the Plan Get the Plan Get the Plan Get the Plan You Might Also Like Jennifer Garner Swears By This Retinol Eye Cream These New Kicks Will Help You Smash Your Cross-Training Goals
Yahoo
27 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Trump admin orders federal agencies to scrub all worker COVID vaccination records
WASHINGTON – The Trump administration has ordered all federal agencies to scrub any records related to workers' COVID-19 vaccination status and other compliance with pandemic mandates. The order rescinding vaccine record retention requirements was announced in an Aug. 8 memorandum by Scott Kupor, the director of the Office of Personnel Management in a memo to all federal department and agency heads. They have until Sept. 8 'to report their compliance,' Kupor wrote. 'Effective immediately, federal agencies may not use an individual's COVID-19 vaccine status, history of noncompliance with prior COVID-19 vaccine mandates, or requests for exemptions from such mandates in any employment-related decisions, including but not limited to hiring, promotion, discipline, or termination,' Kupor wrote in the official memorandum to all heads and acting heads of federal departments and agencies. Kupor said the move was part of the Trump administrationʼs broader effort to reverse 'many harmful policies' of former President Joe Biden's administration. More: Leading doctors sue RFK Jr. over COVID-19 vaccines. Here's why. 'Things got out of hand during the pandemic, and federal workers were fired, punished, or sidelined for simply making a personal medical decision. That should never have happened,' Kupor said in a post on X. 'Thanks to @POTUS's leadership, we're making sure the excesses of that era do not have lingering effects on federal workers.' Also, due to document preservation requirements related to recent litigation, Kupor said, 'all information related to an employee's COVID-19 vaccine status, noncompliance with prior vaccine mandates, or exemption requests must be expunged' from all employees' official personnel folders unless, within 90 days, any individual 'affirmatively opts out of this removal.' The White House did not respond immediately to a USA TODAY request for comment. Kupor's memo cited a Sept. 9, 2021, executive order from Biden directing federal agencies to require COVID-19 vaccination as a condition of federal employment. While Biden subsequently repealed that order, his Office of Personnel Management soon after issued a new policy reminding agencies that the executive order could no longer be enforced. A federal judge in December 2021 issued a nationwide injunction against a vaccine mandate for federal contractors, ruling that Biden likely exceeded his authority by imposing the requirement. In May, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said the COVID-19 vaccine is no longer recommended for healthy children and pregnant women. But the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said it was still recommending COVID vaccines for healthy children, according to its published immunization schedule. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Trump admin orders fed agencies to scrub worker COVID vaccine records
