A wave of toxic air has transformed three major US cities into the most unbreathable places on Earth.
Detroit, Minneapolis and Chicago on Thursday claimed the top three spots on IQAir’s live global ranking of major cities with the worst air quality.
The thick plume causing the issues stems from Canadian wildfires pouring over the border.
Locals reported it smelling like ‘a bonfire that you can’t escape,’ saying the smoke is seeping into buildings.
Minneapolis ranked second with an AQI of 289, followed by Chicago at 259. On the US AQI scale, any reading above 300 is considered ‘hazardous,’ meaning the air poses serious health risks for everyone.
Readings between 201 and 300 are classified as ‘very unhealthy,’ with health officials warning that all residents could experience adverse effects from prolonged exposure.
Detroit topped IQAir’s live global air quality rankings with a US Air Quality Index (AQI) of 566, making it the most polluted major city in the world at the time of the reading
Minneapolis ranked second with an AQI of 289
Officials have warned that wildfire smoke drifting into the US contains fine particulate matter, known as PM2.5, microscopic toxic particles small enough to penetrate deep into the lungs and enter the bloodstream.
State and local health officials in all three cities have issued air quality alerts, urging residents to limit time outdoors until conditions improve.
They recommend avoiding strenuous activities such as running, biking and yard work, staying indoors with windows and doors closed, and using a HEPA air purifier if available.
Residents are also advised to avoid burning candles or using fireplaces, which can worsen indoor air pollution, and to wear a well-fitting N95 or KN95 mask if they must go outside.
People at the highest risk, including those with asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) or heart disease, older adults, children, pregnant women and people with other chronic health conditions, are urged to avoid outdoor exertion altogether and follow prescribed medication plans closely.
The Southeast Michigan Council of Governments warned Thursday that the air quality alert has been extended into Friday, when pollutants are expected to range from ‘Very Unhealthy’ to ‘Hazardous.’
According to air pollution estimates, breathing the air in the Detroit metro area on Thursday was roughly equivalent to smoking a pack of cigarettes.
Dr John Frith of the Allergy and Asthma Institute of Southeast Michigan told FOX 2: ‘If you do need to go out, having a mask, potentially, the N95, the KN95 are some alternatives to that, just to minimize how much of that irritant you’re bringing in.
Chicago ranks third worst in the world at 259. On the US AQI scale, any reading above 300 is considered ‘hazardous,’ meaning the air poses serious health risks for everyone.
According to air pollution estimates, breathing the air in the Detroit metro area on Thursday was roughly equivalent to smoking a pack of cigarettes
‘Because that’s just trying to filter that out, so at least you can go do what you need to do. So taking a little bit of a break, less strenuous activity, things like that can also just minimize how that burden you’re putting on the airways can be helpful.’
Minnesota residents also reported feeling the effects of the smoke, with many saying they developed headaches after spending time outdoors.
Tammy Johnson wrote on Facebook: ‘Instant headache anytime I stepped outside, and then it would take 20 to 30 minutes to resolve [once] back in the house.
‘I have never experienced that before with wildfire smoke that we have had the last few summers.’
Skies over Minneapolis also appeared dark due to the wildfire smoke
Smoke from more than 100 wildfires burning across northern and western Ontario also blanketed the Chicago area.
Chicago resident Michelle Turner told ABC7: ‘This smoke that is in the air, it’s very irritating. You can hardly breathe.’
She said her eyes and throat had been burning throughout the day, even while wearing a mask.
Another local, Rachel Philips, wrote on Facebook that downtown Chicago had disappeared behind the smoke.
‘This is far worse than the summer two and three years ago,’ she said. ‘It hurts to breathe and I don’t have health issues!’
