California passes rules to cut train emissions
The California Air Resources Board has approved new rules to reduce emissions and air pollution from diesel-powered trains. The railroad industry opposes the rules and questions whether California authorities will regulate the trains. (April 27) (AP Video/Terry Chea)
AP
Millions of Americans are exposed to dangerous levels of air quality as Eastern Canada experiences one of the worst wildfires on record.
More than 6.7 million Canadian hectares have already burned in 2023, federal officials announced last week, marking one of the worst starts to the wildfire season. About 14,000 people were forced to evacuate Quebec with more than 150 fires. CBC News mentionted. Officials said firefighters contained a wildfire in Nova Scotia on Sunday, but that another blaze was still burning out of control covering nearly 100 square miles, according to the Associated Press.
Flames from Quebec and Nova Scotia have caused hazy skies from the Ohio Valley to North Carolina and South Carolina. Air quality warnings are in effect for parts of Michigan's Upper Peninsula, southeastern Minnesota and throughout Wisconsin on Monday.
“Today's Air Quality Advisory has been extended to the entire state of Wisconsin, ending at 11:59 PM, due to wildfire smoke originating in Canada,” the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources tweeted Monday afternoon.
The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency tweeted that the Quebec fires continue to “remain across east central and southeast Minnesota today due to very light winds.” The agency added that evening storms should improve air quality by dispersing smoke particles.
Americans in the Midwest and Northeast received air quality alerts in their areas, particularly warning “sensitive groups” such as older adults, children or people with pre-existing respiratory conditions such as asthma.
The health risk from air pollution caused by wildfire smoke continues to worsen. The number of people who experienced at least one day of unhealthy air quality due to smoke increased more than 27-fold in the past decade, according to Stanford University research published last fall.
Air pollution can cause inflammation, weakens one's immune system and can increase the risk of asthma, lung cancer or other chronic lung diseases.
Map: Fire, smoke effects United States, Canada
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