Calgary’s air quality deemed ‘high risk’ as wildfire smoke hangs over the city

With Calgary and many surrounding areas blanketed in a haze of thick wildfire smoke, doctors are warning people to take precautions.

As of noon Thursday, Calgary’s air quality health index was listed as 10-plus, or “very high risk.” But conditions are changing quickly, getting worse or getting better. By 1 p.m., the air quality was rated as 8, or “high risk.”

“The air quality in Calgary right now is some of the worst that we ever get and some of the worst that we’ve ever seen,” said Dr. Kerri Johannson, a lung specialist and clinical associate professor in the department of medicine at the University of Calgary.

“This isn’t good for anybody. Having this chronic, repeated, long-term exposure to high concentrations of pollution like this is risky.”

An air quality advisory issued for Calgary stated everyone should limit their time outdoors.

“During heavy smoke conditions, everyone is at risk regardless of their age or health. The fine particles in wildfire smoke pose the main health risk,” the advisory stated.

Generally healthy people may experience symptoms, including itchy eyes, a stuffy nose and throat irritation.

But, according to Johansson,  there are many Albertans who are particularly vulnerable, including seniors, babies and young children, pregnant people, and those with chronic health conditions such asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), heart disease and pulmonary fibrosis.

These groups are advised to avoid strenuous activities outdoors altogether.

Johannson said asthma, for example, can worsen due to smoke exposure.

“Those can be anywhere from mild, sort of irritating, worsening symptoms to life-threatening exacerbations,” she said.

“We know from prior data that air pollution and wildfire smoke increases the risk of asthma exacerbations, leading people to come to the emergency department and needing to be hospitalized, needing to change their medications.”

The same thing can happen with other types of lung disease and even acute heart disease.

“Studies have shown that air pollution exposure increases the risk of heart attacks,” she said.

“There are these acute inflammatory processes that happen when your lung tissue has been exposed to all this particulate matter, leading to systemic inflammation in the body. So these are some of the things that we worry about.” 

According to Johannson, it’s important that people with chronic heart and lung conditions ensure they have on hand their medications, such as inhalers, and take them as they’re prescribed.

“Consider this to be a high-risk scenario. And just be really diligent and vigilant with managing your underlying disease well,” she said.

Alberta Health Services is urging anyone experiencing symptoms related to poor air quality to call Health Link at 811.

The air quality advisory urges people to keep doors and windows closed while inside and use a high quality air filter on ventilation systems or indoor air purifiers to filter out particles in the air.

People who must be outdoors are urged to wear well-fitting, respirator masks, such as an N95.

“Even though exposure may be reduced, there can still be risks to health,” the advisory stated.

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