Canadian Wildfires Cause Dangerous Air Quality Levels in the US

Smoke from wildfires in eastern Canada has caused dangerous air quality conditions in the Midwest, with hazy skies blanketing a wide swath of the country. Air quality advisories are in effect in several states, and exposure to wildfire smoke can cause inflammation and weaken the immune system, particularly in vulnerable groups. Canada is experiencing one of the worst starts to its wildfire season ever recorded, with over 6.7 million acres already burned. The situation highlights the longer-term risks of wildfires, particularly as climate change creates warmer and drier conditions that make these blazes more likely to occur and more severe when they do.