Ohio EPA issues air quality advisory for smoke from Canadian wildfires

The Ohio EPA has issued a statewide Air Quality Advisory as smoke from Canadian wildfires continues to affect air quality adversely.

The advisory is in effect through the end of Monday, July 17.

Ohio EPA expects the Air Quality Index to be in the “unhealthy for sensitive groups” to “unhealthy” ranges.

At 9 a.m., Mount Vernon’s AQI was at 137, placing it on the high end of “unhealthy for sensitive groups.” The northeast corner of Knox County had worse air quality, putting it in the “unhealthy” category.

People in sensitive groups (due to medical conditions, exposure conditions or innate susceptibility) may experience health effects during outdoor activities during this advisory. To decrease the potential for health issues, sensitive groups (children, elderly, people with asthma or COPD) should limit prolonged or strenuous outdoor activity.

When the AQI is unhealthy, some members of the general public may experience health effects; members of sensitive groups may experience more serious health effects, according to AirNow.

To see real-time air quality, visit the AirNow website.