Michigan’s environmental agency has extended an air quality advisory through Saturday because of smoke from Canadian wildfires.
The advisory applies to the entire state. Though some areas in the Lower Peninsula may see improvements in air quality late Thursday into Friday, those are expected to be short-lived, said the state’s Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy. Concentrations of pollutants in the air will range from “unhealthy for sensitive groups” to “unhealthy,” according to the agency’s website.
EGLE originally issued the air quality advisory Wednesday.
The National Weather Service recommends avoiding strenuous outdoor activities if possible, especially for people with heart disease and respiratory conditions like asthma. Symptoms such as wheezing, coughing, chest tightness, dizziness, or burning in nose, throat and eyes should be monitored.
People who fall into the “sensitive groups” include people with lung disease, children and older adults, people who are active or work outdoors, and people with certain genetic variants.
The weather service also recommends keeping windows closed overnight to keep smoke out and, if possible, run central air conditioning with MERV-13 or higher-rated filters.
