Canadian wildfires have sent smoke into the United States in recent weeks. There is increased concern about what this will mean for air quality, especially as people spend more time outside during the summer. And this may be a long-term concern, especially since the conditions that spawned the wildfires could become more frequent with climate change. Dr. Stephanie Holm, an air pollution exposure expert from the University of California-San Francisco, says there are steps people can take to protect themselves. It starts with just being aware of what the air quality outside is like. “I think the key is that folks should really pay attention to the air quality index. You know, there’s that good range, there’s moderate, unhealthy for sensitive groups, unhealthy for everybody, and it keeps getting worse from there,” she said. 

Photo Credit: The Allegheny Front