New York most polluted in the world due to Canadian wildfires

Smoke from burning forests in Canada has spread across cities across North America, forcing people to stay indoors.

The George Washington Bridge in New York is shrouded in smog. Photo: AP

Thick smoke from Canadian wildfires has blanketed much of North America with toxic air, disrupting everything from air travel to concerts. Authorities issued health warnings to millions of people in the eastern United States and Canada on June 7 as a cloud of smog from hundreds of wildfires moved south, blanketing densely populated areas from Ottawa to Washington, DC. In New York City, air quality on June 7 was the worst of any major city in the world, ranking above New Delhi, India, according to the IQAir air quality index.

While air pollution from wildfires has become a regular problem on the West Coast in recent years, it has been much less common on the East Coast. Many residents were alarmed when the sky suddenly turned a hazy orange and were forced to don face masks. Schools in New York and Washington canceled outdoor activities, while the US aviation authority delayed flights to Philadelphia, Newark, New Jersey, and LaGuardia Airport due to poor visibility. New York's toxic air quality also prevented some Broadway performers from performing.

The smog has shrouded iconic landmarks like the Statue of Liberty and Yankee Stadium. New York City Mayor Eric Adams has urged residents to stay indoors and keep their windows closed in the coming days. Even if conditions improve in the coming days, Adams said the scene could be repeated in the future due to climate change.

Canada is in the midst of a wildfire season, with fires burning in nearly 10 provinces over the past month. Canada’s environmental regulator has rated the air quality in the capital Ottawa as the highest level for health risk. Parts of Quebec and Ontario are also under air quality warnings. As of June 7, there were more than 400 active fires across Canada, and about 4 million hectares of land had burned since the start of the year.

Scientists have found that wildfires in the Northern Hemisphere have increased over the past decade, with average temperatures rising faster than near the equator due to global warming. May 2023 was the second hottest May on record, according to the European Union's Copernicus program.

An Khang (According to Financial Times )

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