Health officials warn about air quality from N.S. wildfires
Health officials in the Maritimes are warning people about the dangers of the thick acidic smoke from the wildfires.
“We know there is no safe level of exposure to wildfire smoke. Everybody has some level of smoke risk, but this is higher for small children, women who are pregnant, the elderly, and people with underlying significant lung or heart conditions,” said Dr. Robert Strang, Chief Medical Officer of Nova Scotia.
The warning is not only for people living close to the fires, the winds can carry the smoke far distances.
“So if there is wildfire smoke, and that means when you can see and smell smoke, then the local air quality is being negatively impacted,” said Dr. Strang.
Early mornings or late nights is some of the worst times to be outside, because cooler temperatures keep the smoke closer to the ground.
Burning eyes, sore throat, and runny noses are just some of the symptoms exposure to the smoke can cause.
“Studies over the past 10 years so clearly that particulates in wildfire smoke contain large amounts of so called heavy metals,” said Douglas Mulhall, author of Discovering the Nature of Longevity.
Mulhall says other studies link the smoke to cardiovascular disease and heart attacks.
“The first thing you can do when you're outside is wear a mask. The same N95 mask people have been wearing for years now. This is a big advantage,” he said.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Canada, G7 urge 'all parties' to de-escalate in growing Mideast conflict
Canada called for "all parties" to de-escalate rising tensions in the Mideast following an apparent Israeli drone attack against Iran overnight.
After hearing thousands of last words, this hospital chaplain has advice for the living
Hospital chaplain J.S. Park opens up about death, grief and hearing thousands of last words, and shares his advice for the living.
'It was all my savings': Ontario woman loses $15K to fake Walmart job scam
A woman who recently moved to Canada from India was searching for a job when she got caught in an online job scam and lost $15,000.
Families to receive Canada Child Benefit payment on Friday
More money will land in the pockets of some Canadian families on Friday for the latest Canada Child Benefit installment.
After COVID, WHO defines disease spread 'through air'
The World Health Organization and around 500 experts have agreed for the first time on what it means for a disease to spread through the air, in a bid to avoid the confusion early in the COVID-19 pandemic that some scientists have said cost lives.
Taylor Swift drops 15 new songs on double album, 'The Tortured Poets Department: The Anthology'
On Friday, the pop star released her 11th album and at 2 a.m. Eastern, she released "The Tortured Poets Department: The Anthology," featuring 15 additional songs.
Israel gave U.S. last-minute warning about drone attack on Iran, Italian foreign minister says at G7
The United States told the Group of Seven foreign ministers on Friday that it received 'last minute' information from Israel about a drone action in Iran, but didn't participate in the apparent attack, officials said.
American millionaire Jonathan Lehrer denied bail after being charged with killing Canadian couple
American millionaire Jonathan Lehrer, one of two men charged in the killings of a Canadian couple in Dominica, has been denied bail.
DEVELOPING G7 warns of new sanctions against Iran as world reacts to apparent Israeli drone attack
Group of Seven foreign ministers warned of new sanctions against Iran on Friday for its drone and missile attack on Israel, and urged both sides to avoid an escalation of the conflict.