Latest news with #AirQualityHealthIndex
Winnipeg Free Press
9 hours ago
- Sport
- Winnipeg Free Press
New and improved: Wheatfall wants the ball
After losing Kenny Lawler, Ontaria Wilson, and Drew Wolitarsky in the off-season, the Winnipeg Blue Bombers could certainly use a breakout star from the receiver room in 2025. If he can back up his word, that might just be second-year Bomber Keric Wheatfall. 'I feel like it's my turn to really go out there and perform,' said the 26-year-old Fresno State product after Wednesday's practice. Ruth Bonneville / Free Press Bombers receiver Keric Wheatfall can't wait to prove himself this season. 'I hear a lot of people say 'Oh, this is the new Kenny Lawler,' but this is the new Keric Wheatfall. You all are going to see something, and I can't wait to show you guys.' Wheatfall showed out in his CFL debut last season in Week 2 when he torched the Ottawa RedBlacks for 111 yards on three catches. He couldn't follow that up with a strong encore, though, as he suffered a hamstring injury that night that led to six weeks of rehab another two weeks on the practice roster before getting back in the starting lineup in Week 16. In seven games, he finished with 13 grabs for 273 yards and one touchdown. He also started the Western Final and Grey Cup. '(The injury) took a lot away from me, but I never let myself get down,' said Wheatfall, who played for the Philadelphia Stars of the USFL before arriving in Winnipeg. He doubled last year's end zone total in the team's preseason finale last week in Saskatchewan, a 27-20 win, when he hauled in two touchdowns — one from Zach Collaros and another from Chris Steveler — on five catches and 88 yards in one half of play. 'Wheat's a heck of a receiver. He played well for us last season, had a great training camp last season and this season as well,' said Collaros. 'He plays fast and does a great job at getting in and out of his cuts. As you guys can see, he's a guy that attacks the football in the air and he'll continue to get better.' According to Wheatfall, it's only a sign of things to come. 'It felt good to be out there and play free and show a little bit of a snippet of how the season is going to go for me,' said Wheatfall. 'I'm way crisper than I was last year… I just feel like this year I'm more free. Last year I was more robotish, still kind of learning the waggle and the CFL.' The Bombers are currently getting some work in on their Week 1 bye before opening their season at home on June 12 against the B.C. Lions. Air quality The Bombers practised on their outdoor practice field Wednesday, but almost had to make the move indoors to the WSF South building due to the poor air quality caused by the Manitoba wildfires. Thursdays Keep up to date on sports with Mike McIntyre's weekly newsletter. Next door at Princess Auto Stadium, Valour FC's 11 a.m. kickoff against Vancouver FC was pushed back 30 minutes as the Air Quality Health Index (AQHI+) was hovering around 12. On Sunday, Valour had a match that was pushed back several hours for the same reason. It's a situation the Bombers may very well face this season if the issue persists. The CFL's policy is to stop a game and send teams into the locker room if the AQHI+ reaches 8 or above. 'We've come up with some pretty good protocols and we observe it well,' said Bombers long snapper Mike Benson, a CFLPA representative. 'I don't think we get distracted by it at all. We just know we have to get our work done no matter where we are. It's a relatively new protocol, it's only been around for a couple of years. We're always tinkering with it to find the best solution, the fastest results, so we're not debating on the phone up to a minute before the game. But unfortunately, just like any kind of weatherman, you can't predict what's going to go on. All we can do is adapt, persevere and be OK with it as a team.' Taylor AllenReporter Taylor Allen is a sports reporter for the Winnipeg Free Press. Taylor was the Vince Leah intern in the Free Press newsroom twice while earning his joint communications degree/diploma at the University of Winnipeg and Red River College Polytechnic. He signed on full-time in 2019 and mainly covers the Blue Bombers, curling, and basketball. Read more about Taylor. Every piece of reporting Taylor produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print — part of the Free Press's tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press's history and mandate, and learn how our newsroom operates. Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider becoming a subscriber. Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support.
Global News
12 hours ago
- Health
- Global News
Do you know about the health damage long-term wildfire smoke exposure can cause?
Smoky days from wildfires in the spring and summer are sadly becoming the norm in Western Canada, and the hidden impact it can have on your health is something that shouldn't be ignored, health officials say. Bad air quality is linked to poor health outcomes and the development or worsening of some chronic diseases. 'Things like asthma, cough, headaches — we know that over time (smoke exposure) can increase your risk of things like respiratory infections. It can also increase your risk for long-term disease like lung cancer if you have high exposure,' said Jamie Happy, the health promotion coordinator with Alberta Lung. June 4 is Clean Air Day in Canada and Happy said right now, the awareness they are trying to raise is especially important as fires blaze across the west. 'Air quality is important because we all breathe every day, every minute of every day,' said Salina Fairbank, the engagement coordinator with Alberta Capital Airshed. Story continues below advertisement 'You take more breaths in a day than anything else you do. It's important for everyone.' Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "You take more breaths in a day than anything else you do. It's important for everyone." 1:51 Doctors warn about short, long term impacts of poor air quality from wildfires The not-for-profit organization monitors air quality in the Edmonton region and the data collected at the Alberta Capital Airshed's continuous monitoring stations is used to help calculate the Air Quality Health Index, or AQHI. The AQHI indicates the level of pollution in a community. A rating of 1-3 is low risk, 4-6 is moderate risk, 7-10 is high risk and over 10 is very high risk. 'Clean air quality is definitely becoming more of an awareness concern because we are experiencing more wildfire seasons that are increasing,' Happy said. 'They're longer, they start earlier, they get worse. We're noticing a lot more air quality alerts. 'This is here to stay and it's going to be on people's minds, especially when they can smell it and see it.' Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "This is here to stay and it's going to be on people's minds, especially when they can smell it and see it." Story continues below advertisement But one doesn't need to wait until the sky is dark Apocalypse orange and the air is thick with burning campfire smells to take action to protect their health — the damage can begin well before that. Get weekly health news Receive the latest medical news and health information delivered to you every Sunday. Sign up for weekly health newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy 'Check the air quality and if it's over five, six, seven, that's when you need to pay attention. That means air quality could be bad, even if the sky looks clear,' Happy said. Some particles from fires, chemicals and pollution are so small they can't be seen, but Happy said they can still cause damage and inflammation when they're inhaled deep into lung tissue. 'They can cause damage by making micro-tears and causing irritation.' Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "They can cause damage by making micro-tears and causing irritation." Health experts have said the very fine particulate matter can be absorbed into the bloodstream and have impacts on a person's brain as well. 2:16 Growing wildfire threats extend beyond fire lines to smoke, health risks Happy said as soon as the AQHI hits five or higher, people should consider limiting their time outdoors or wearing a N95 mask, and once inside, take steps to rid themselves of contaminants like changing clothes, washing their face, and running air filters via HEPA or HVAC systems. Story continues below advertisement Many people with asthma or other chronic conditions — as well as infants, young children, pregnant people and seniors — feel the effects of smoke and other air pollution at lower levels than people who are very healthy. Kids are especially susceptible due to their biology, Happy explained — both now and over the long term. 'They have a smaller respiratory system. They breathe faster than we do. So their concentration of pollution is actually higher than an adult's and over time, this can affect their development,' Happy explained. 'Their lung structure could develop more slowly. They could be hit with more asthma attacks, respiratory infections, which affects their overall development.' Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "Their lung structure could develop more slowly. They could be hit with more asthma attacks, respiratory infections, which affects their overall development." In addition to asthma, research has shown that wildfire smoke is associated with more hospital visits for both children and adults with other lung conditions, such as viral infections, pneumonia and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), as well as heart attacks and strokes. 'This affects the youth, seniors, as well as people with lung disease, heart disease. Anyone with a lowered immune system tends to be considered higher risk. They would be the ones we'd want them to watch the alert a little bit earlier,' Happy said. Some of the first signs someone may be reacting to smoke particles include: Story continues below advertisement Itchy eyes Sore throat Cough Nasal congestion Stuffy nose Headache While wildfires are a natural part of the boreal forest ecosystem, a growing number of studies have documented how climate change, driven by the burning of fossil fuels, is making them larger and more intense — and contributing more to air pollution. The fires churn out more fine particle pollution, known as PM2.5, and it's a particularly harmful component of wildfire smoke. It's tiny enough to get deep into the lungs and in the long run, can have serious health effects. PM 2.5 comes from a wide range of sources, including power plants and vehicles. Canadians can track concentration of wildfire smoke by particulate size using Environment and Climate Change Canada's Fire Works map. A 2024 study estimated the number of smoke-related deaths from wildfires linked to climate change has soared since the 1960s. The study estimates, using mathematical modeling, that about 12,566 annual wildfire smoke-related deaths in the 2010s were linked to climate change, up from about 669 in the 1960s, when far less carbon dioxide was concentrated in the atmosphere. Translated to a proportion of wildfire smoke mortality overall, the study estimates about 13 per cent of estimated excess deaths in the 2010s were linked to climate change, compared to about 1.2 per cent in the 1960s. Story continues below advertisement Last year, Environment Canada changed up its colour-coded Air Quality Health Index to improve how air quality-related health risks are communicated and understood by the public. The change was prompted by a 'record number' of AQHI 10+ scores during the 2023 wildfire season. 21:32 Smoke, Fires and Floods: 2023 was the year of wild weather in Canada The wildfires torching buildings and forcing thousands of people from their homes in Western Canada are also creating smoke hazards stretching into the United States. Natalie Hasell of Environment Canada said on Wednesday that wildfire smoke from British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba has travelled as far as Texas in the United States. Hassell said smoke from wildfires in Ontario and Quebec may have also drifted south to Michigan and the eastern seaboard. Environment Canada has issued bulletins warning of poor air quality in parts of Alberta, northern Manitoba and Saskatchewan, where wildfires have forced more than 30,000 people from their homes. Story continues below advertisement — with files from The Canadian Press and Emily Mertz
Winnipeg Free Press
12 hours ago
- Climate
- Winnipeg Free Press
Recess, field trips cancelled due to poor air quality
City schools cancelled outdoor recess and field trips at the eleventh-hour Wednesday as wildfire smoke choked the city of Winnipeg. Families across the Louis Riel School Division learned the St. Vital board office had called off outdoor excursions, even though some students had already been dropped off at venues, in a mid-morning memo. 'Unfortunately, it is hard to predict changes in air quality,' senior administration wrote. 'The (Air Quality Health Index) was 3 early this morning at 5 a.m., 5 at 9 a.m., and was forecast to reach 8 later in the day. The index jumped quickly to 10+ at 10 a.m.' High risk is considered 7 to 10 on the index and 10+ is considered very high risk. There had been field trips scheduled for both Valour FC and Winnipeg Goldeyes games. The division indicated it is 'developing reimbursement options' in cases where students were charged for a trip. Metro divisions have cancelled outdoor breaks and rescheduled extracurricular events throughout the week in response to extremely poor air quality.
Hamilton Spectator
2 days ago
- Climate
- Hamilton Spectator
Why is the sun so red? Western wildfires spur lurid sunsets, hazy skies over Hamilton
That hazy, red sun hanging over Hamilton is a reminder of deadly forest fires raging in Western Canada and northern Ontario. But so far, Environment Canada says the high-flying smoke is not a 'surface level' air quality concern for local residents. Major forest fires are burning in B.C., Manitoba, Saskatchewan and northwestern Ontario, in some cases resulting in deaths and mass evacuations from fire-threatened communities. The smoke from those blazes has drifted across Canada, into parts of the U.S. and even as far as Europe in the high atmosphere. That smoke accounts for the 'hazy' skies and 'reddish' sun visible to Hamiltonians and other southern Ontario residents, said Environment Canada meteorologist Barbara Lapido. Forecasting models on BlueSky Canada suggest that high-level smoke will continues to circulate over Ontario for several days. But while that drifting smoke is spurring air quality warnings in parts of northern Ontario, so far residents in the Hamilton and Greater Toronto Area have been spared ground-level health concerns. 'It's high in the sky, but it is not reaching the surface yet,' Lapido said of southern Ontario. 'Right now, we don't foresee that happening in the next few days.' It has happened in Hamilton before, however. Increasingly, bad wildfire seasons experts link to climate change are resulting in far-flung smoke impacts. Summer air quality dropped noticeably in Hamilton in both 2023 and 2021 as a result of raging forest fires out west or in Quebec. Lapido recommends residents keep an eye on the Air Quality Health Index (AQHI) for their community, which tracks real-time area air pollution and also forecasts upcoming conditions — which can sometimes change fast. Worth noting: the air quality index for downtown Hamilton was forecast to change from 'low' to 'moderate' risk late Tuesday and into Wednesday, meaning residents with breathing or heart problems are advised to reschedule strenuous outdoor activities. Even at 'moderate' air pollution levels, most residents can continue normal outdoors activities like running or sports unless they experience symptoms like coughing or throat irritation. Lapido said that changing air quality forecast is more likely to be linked to local pollution than high-atmosphere wildfire smoke. Right now, Lapido said weather-watchers might also see the word 'hazy' being used to describe conditions, which means smoke is visible but not a ground-level health concern. 'If it reaches the surface, the forecast will be changed to (specify) smoke,' she said. Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Climate
- Yahoo
Wildfire smoke is causing air quality to plummet across Canada — 8 best AHAM-certified air purifiers for 2025
As wildfires continue to rage throughout Western Canada, thousands of residents of Manitoba, Alberta and Saskatchewan have been evacuated, and millions in the surrounding areas face hazardous air quality conditions. Manitoba, the epicentre of the wildfires, remains under a province-wide state of emergency as extreme fire conditions force thousands to flee. Premier Wab Kinew has called it Manitoba's "largest evacuation" in living memory. More than 17,000 Manitobans have been evacuated, along with 1,300 people in Alberta and approximately 8,000 people in Saskatchewan. Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe declared a province-wide state of emergency on Thursday, one day after his Manitoba counterpart, Kinew, did the same. Smoke from the Canadian wildfires has triggered air quality warnings in several provinces and surrounding U.S. states. As of Monday, June 2, the air quality in Flin Flon and Winnipeg, MB, remains at a 10+ or "very high risk" on the Air Quality Health Index — the highest possible level. On days with poor air quality, people are more likely to experience shortness of breath, difficulty breathing and coughing or wheezing — especially if they have a chronic respiratory disease like asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The small particles in wildfire smoke can get into your eyes and bloodstream, and if you have a heart or lung problem, you may experience problems earlier and at lower smoke levels. According to Health Canada, using a portable air purifier that can filter fine particles is one way to protect your indoor environment from smoke pollution. Air purifiers, also known as air cleaners, can improve indoor air quality by removing small contaminants that can harm your health. According to the health authority, you should prioritize the following when choosing an air purifier: Look for a device certified by the Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers (AHAM). Choose an air purifier sized appropriately for the room you want to put it in. Consider the clean air delivery rate (CADR) for the room size. The CADR describes how well the device reduces tobacco smoke, dust, pollen and wildfire smoke. To reduce fine particles, select a device with the highest CADR. Choose an air purifier with a high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter. Avoid devices that produce ozone. Not all air purifiers are made equal. Following Health Canada's recommendations, we've listed eight AHAM-certified air purifiers and included information about recommended room sizes and CADR ratings. Room Size: 47 ft2 Tobacco Smoke CADR: 30 Dust CADR: 41 PM2.5 CADR: 35 Pollen CADR: 52 Volts / Frequency: 120V / 60Hz Room Size: 201 ft2 Tobacco Smoke CADR: 112 Dust CADR: 112 Pollen CADR: 112 Volts / Frequency: 100V / 50Hz | 240V / 60Hz Room Size: 140 ft2 Tobacco Smoke CADR: 90 Dust CADR: 101 PM2.5 CADR: 95 Pollen CADR: 119 Volts / Frequency: 120V / 60Hz Room Size: 170 ft2 Tobacco Smoke CADR: 110 Dust CADR: 120 Pollen CADR: 130 Volts / Frequency: 120V / 60Hz Room Size: 206 ft2 Tobacco Smoke CADR: 133 Dust CADR: 141 Pollen CADR: 145 Volts / Frequency: 120V / 60Hz Room Size: 200 ft2 Tobacco Smoke CADR: 132 Dust CADR: 130 Pollen CADR: 152 Volts / Frequency: 120V / 60Hz Room Size: 250 ft2 Tobacco Smoke CADR: 161 Dust CADR: 160 Pollen CADR: 170 Volts / Frequency: 120V / 60Hz Room Size: 358 ft2 Tobacco Smoke CADR: 231 Dust CADR: 240 PM2.5 CADR: 236 Pollen CADR: 259 Volts / Frequency: 120V / 60Hz
