TORONTO – The city’s air quality is currently among the worst in the world, according to a report by Swiss air quality tracker IQAir. With wildfire smoke blanketing the sky, Toronto has ranked as the third most polluted major city globally. Montreal, another major Canadian city, has also entered the list at fourth place.
Environment Canada has warned that wildfire smoke will affect most of Southern Ontario and that the current conditions are expected to persist until Tuesday. The weather agency also stated that air quality and visibility due to wildfire smoke would vary by region.
The agency cautioned that health risks increase with higher levels of smoke. Fine particulate matter in wildfire smoke can cause irritation to the eyes, nose, and throat, as well as headaches and coughing. However, the weather department also noted that inhaling wildfire smoke can lead to shortness of breath, chest pain, and severe coughing.
