Toledo's air quality entered the “very unhealthy” range on Thursday morning as a wildfire smoke-induced haze continued to hang over the region.
The city's air quality index rose to 208 by mid-morning Thursday, according to AirNow.gov, before dropping slightly by the afternoon. That was high enough to briefly put Toledo among the top-10 cities with the worst air quality in the United States.
When the air quality index surpasses 200, people with heart or lung disease, or older adults, children and teens, should avoid all physical activity outside, health officials say. And everyone else should avoid any strenuous outside activities, and keep their time outside short.
“Anyone with breathing issues is advised to stay inside today,” the Toledo-Lucas County Health Department posted on social media.
PM 2.5, the fine, inhalable particles that can cause health problems, is the primary pollutant causing the visible smog.
Beyond Toledo, regional cities including Kalamazoo, Lansing, Ann Arbor, and Grand Rapids in Michigan were all listed among the cities with the worst U.S. air quality at various times Thursday.
Government maps showed much of the Midwest grappling with moderate-to-unhealthy air caused by wildfire smoke. The Ohio Environmental Protection Agency continued a statewide air quality advisory Thursday due to the Canadian wildfire smoke, saying people should limit exposure when possible.
The smoke has been carried south from fires that have burned for weeks in Canadian provinces including Quebec, Ontario, and Nova Scotia.
Metroparks Toledo announced Thursday that it was canceling all outdoor programming on Thursday — including boat runs at the Canal Experience in Grand Rapids, Ohio, as well as a concert that had been scheduled for Wildwood Preserve.
The region’s air quality started worsening on Tuesday, and it could be elevated for several days, forecasts said. An AccuWeather forecast said the region’s air could remain at unhealthy levels through at least Sunday, though another forecast, IQAir, projected more moderate levels.
Rain is possible in the next few days, according to the National Weather Service, which could help improve air quality.
First Published June 29, 2023, 1:55 p.m.
