Calgary air quality worsens despite brief improvement
CBC News | Posted: August 26, 2015 7:55 PM | Last Updated: August 27, 2015
Rating at 10 — or high risk — on Thursday
Despite a brief improvement in Calgary's air quality Wednesday morning, conditions deteriorated overnight amid worsening conditions and expanded advisories across the province.
The air quality health index stood at 4 — which is moderate risk — around lunchtime on Wednesday, but hit 10 — or high risk — by Thursday morning, according to Alberta Environment and Parks.
[Tiny particles in the smoke] have the ability to go right into our lungs and go directly into the blood stream and they pose real health issues - Mandeep Dhaliwal, Calgary Region Airshed Zone
Alberta Health Services (AHS) says it is seeing an increase in the number of people going to the emergency room and calling Health Link because of the air quality.
Since Monday, about 50 people have called with concerns, and ERs are seeing a 20 per cent increase in visits over normal rates for respiratory complaints.
Health officials say people should be prepared for variable conditions over the next couple of days.
"The blue sky smoke monitoring system suggests that very quickly Calgary is going to go from a low-risk range back up to a high, and cycle between the different levels for the next several days," says Dr. Jason Cabaj, medical officer with the Calgary health zone.
There is currently a fire ban in Calgary to help reduce smoke in the air.
'Tiny particles'
Tiny particulates in the haze pose a real health risk, says Mandeep Dhaliwal, the air quality program manager with the Calgary Region Airshed Zone.
"The particles are very small, very tiny and they have the ability to go right into our lungs and go directly into the blood stream and they pose real health issues," he said.
Dhaliwal says the air quality is worse in Calgary than in Beijing and New Delhi.
Meanwhile, residents continue to take precautions.
Daycare operator Pamela Deurbrouck says the centre's doors and windows have been shut since Tuesday morning, and the 90 kids who attend the centre were kept inside.
"We have opened the windows for a few minutes, just to let some air in because it has been quite warm outside," said Deurbrouck, director of the Panda Child Development Centre in the city's northwest.
"Everyone seems happy, the children are content, but we just won't let them out — absolutely no way," she added.
Many Calgarians are trying to cope with the haze, even on Twitter.
Air shelters possible
Forest fire smoke blowing in from the northwestern U.S. is reducing visibility and creating poor air quality over much of southern Alberta.
If the hazy skies persist over Calgary, AHS may set up special centres for people with respiratory problems.
"If it continues, we'll want to make sure that there are places for people to go to escape the conditions, particularly vulnerable individuals," said Cabaj.
"If the conditions also result in very hot weather, that combination can also increase the risk for people and so we'll be monitoring that very closely," he added.
AHS extended the advisory on Wednesday to Edmonton, encouraging people to be aware of potential health concerns — especially those with respiratory conditions.
"In the current conditions, even healthy individuals may experience temporary irritation of eyes and throat, and possibly shortness of breath," AHS said in a statement.