MARQUETTE, MI— Smoke from Canadian wildfires continues to blanket the Midwest, and that’s causing the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy to issue an Air Quality Alert through Wednesday.
The Upper Peninsula will see elevated levels of fine particulate during that time. Pollutants in Alger, Baraga, Chippewa, Delta, Dickinson, Gogebic, Houghton, Iron, Keweenaw, Luce, Mackinac, Marquette, Menominee, Ontonagon, and Schoolcraft counties could reach the Unhealthy range or higher. In some areas, air quality could worsen to Very Unhealthy or Hazardous.
EGLE recommends people reduce long or intense outdoor activities, close their windows, and wear a mask outside if air quality is deemed Very Unhealthy.
Officials say the health effects of breathing in wildfire smoke can range from stinging eyes, wheezing, coughing, and shortness of breath to asthma attacks and heart failure.
