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☆ Indian scientists hope cloud seeding can clean Delhi's toxic air
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-09 | by ( Shivam Patel | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Air quality dips in Delhi ahead of winter every year, when cold air traps pollutants from a variety of sources including vehicles, industries, construction dust, and agricultural waste burning. The project, estimated to cost 10 million rupees ($120,000) for 100 square kilometres (38.6 square miles), would involve spraying into clouds a mix of salts that include silver iodine, Agrawal said. "We don't expect that big a cloud that will cover entire Delhi, but a few hundred kilometres would be good," he told Reuters. The air quality index in the city was 506 early on Thursday, which is categorised as "hazardous" by Swiss group IQAir. Several countries have used cloud seeding to produce rain, improve air quality and water crops in time of drought, including Mexico, the United States, China, Indonesia and Malaysia.

Persons: Anushree, Manindra Agrawal, Agrawal, Gufran Beig, SAFAR, Beig, Shivam Patel, Mark Potter Organizations: REUTERS, Indian Institute of Technology, Reuters, Thomson Locations: New Delhi, India, DELHI, Delhi, Kanpur, Punjab, Haryana, Mexico, United States, China, Indonesia, Malaysia, New Mexico

☆ Toxic foam coats sacred river near New Delhi as Indian capital battles hazardous pollution
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-09 | by ( Rhea Mogul | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —A thick layer of toxic foam has once again coated parts of a sacred river near New Delhi as the Indian capital battles an acrid and noxious smog that has settled across the city. The pungent foam contains high levels of ammonia and phosphates, which can cause respiratory and skin problems, according to experts. Yamuna river covered with a thick layer of toxic foam due near Kalindi Kunj, on September 10, 2023 in New Delhi, India. The river is most polluted in areas surrounding Delhi, owing to the area’s dense population and high levels of waste. Pictures from September also showed toxic foam forming on the Yamuna.

Persons: Salman Ali, Surya Organizations: CNN, Press Trust of India, Hindustan Times Locations: New Delhi, India’s, Tamil Nadu, Kalindi, India, Delhi, Oslo, Beijing, Kolkata, Mumbai

☆ Reeling under toxic air, India's capital shuts schools
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-08 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

People and vehicles are seen on a road amidst the morning smog in New Delhi, India, November 8, 2023. REUTERS/Anushree Fadnavis Acquire Licensing RightsNEW DELHI, Nov 8 (Reuters) - Reeling under hazardous air quality levels, India's capital New Delhi shut down all schools for an extended period on Wednesday, the latest in a series of measures to protect residents from growing air pollution. Air quality levels in the city were over 320 on the air quality index, a level categorised as 'hazardous' by Swiss group IQAir, although it was not as bad as the 400 range hit earlier this week. Schools in the capital city would remain closed from Thursday until Nov. 18 on a winter break, which was originally scheduled for January, the Delhi government said in a notification. Primary schools in the city had already been shut, as part of measures to protect young children against smog and growing air pollution.

Persons: Anushree, SAFAR, Shivam Patel, Manoj Kumar, Shilpa Jamkhandikar, Raju Gopalakrishnan Organizations: REUTERS, Reuters, Thomson Locations: New Delhi, India, DELHI, Swiss, Delhi, Farmers, Punjab, Haryana

☆ Pollution Forces City-Wide Closures of Businesses, Schools in Eastern Pakistan
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-08 | by ( Nov. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

By Mubasher BukhariLAHORE (Reuters) - Heavy pollution-fuelled smog forced authorities to close schools and markets this week in Pakistan's most populous province, including the eastern city of Lahore which has risen to one of the world's worst cities for hazardous air quality. Schools, offices, restaurants and businesses, aside from priority services like pharmacies, hospitals and courts, would all close to limit residents' movement outside, according to a directive from the provincial government. Heavy smog blanketed Lahore this week, reducing visibility and leading residents to complain of a threat to their health. In neighbouring India, authorities in Delhi have announced they would restrict use of vehicles next week to curb rising pollution as air quality in the capital remained dangerously unsafe despite mitigation efforts. (Reporting by Mubasher Bukhari in Lahore; Writing by Charlotte Greenfield; Editing by Michael Perry)

Persons: Mubasher Bukhari, Amir Mir, Mohammad Salahuddin, Charlotte Greenfield, Michael Perry Organizations: Schools Locations: Mubasher, Mubasher Bukhari LAHORE, Pakistan's, Lahore, Punjab, Swiss, Delhi, Karachi, South Asia, India

☆ India's top court tells states to stop crop burning as New Delhi's air turns hazardous
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-07 | by ( Shivam Patel | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Air quality dips every year ahead of winter, when calm and cold winds trap pollutants from sources including vehicles, industries, construction dust, and agricultural waste burning. Delhi has stopped local construction, closed primary schools till Nov. 10 and will impose restrictions on use of vehicles next week to fight pollution, but it wants its neighbouring states to control crop residue burning. At 2 p.m. on Tuesday, the real time air quality index stood at 306, a level categorised as 'hazardous' by Swiss group IQAir. "We direct the state government of Punjab and adjacent states to Delhi - Haryana, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh - to ensure that crop (residue) burning is stopped forthwith," Supreme Court judge Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul said. Farmers in Punjab and Haryana usually burn crop stubble left behind after rice is harvested in late October or early November to quickly clear their fields before planting wheat crops.

Persons: Anushree, Boulton, Sanjay Kishan Kaul, SAFAR, Justice Kaul, Kaul, Simon Cameron, Moore Organizations: REUTERS, NEW, Farmers, Thomson Locations: Karnal district, Haryana, India, NEW DELHI, New Delhi, Delhi, Swiss, Punjab, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh

☆ Choking New Delhi smog shutters schools and shrouds Cricket World Cup
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-06 | by ( Manav Tanneeru | Rhea Mogul | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

CNN —A throat-searing blanket of smog has enveloped New Delhi, forcing schools to shut and disrupting the Cricket World Cup as officials rush to contain a pollution crisis that has become an annual occurrence in the Indian capital. New Delhi started the week with a PM 2.5 concentration nearly 80 times the World Health Organization’s recommended limit, according to Swiss air quality company IQAir. Traffic moves on a road enveloped by fog and smog in New Delhi, India, on November 3, 2023. The study also found that every single one of India’s 1.4 billion residents endure annual average pollution levels that exceed guidelines set by WHO. A passenger plane ready to take off at IGI Airport amid heavy smog on November 5, 2023 in New Delhi, India.

Persons: ”, Prachi, Health Organization’s, Awesta Chaudhary, “, Chaudhary, Vipin Kumar, Suranjit Chatterjee Organizations: CNN, Cricket, Health, Bangladesh, Arun, Authorities, Energy, Institute, University of Chicago, WHO, IGI, Hindustan Times, Internal Medicine, Apollo Hospital Locations: New Delhi, Delhi, . New Delhi, India, Sri Lanka, New, “

NEW DELHI, Nov 3 (Reuters) - India's capital New Delhi was wrapped in a thick layer of toxic haze on Friday and some schools were ordered closed as the air quality index (AQI) plummeted to the "severe" category. In India, the annual average concentration of particulate matter 2.5 (PM2.5) in the air is the highest in northern regions. Officials said they saw no immediate improvement in the air quality. Delhi hosts a World Cup match on Monday between Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. Poor air quality also caused respiratory problems, irritation in the eyes and restlessness in pet animals.

Persons: Aheed Khan, Ashwani Kumar, Prabhat Gangwar, Tanvi Mehta, Rajesh, Blassy Boben, Manoj Kumar, Raju Gopalakrishnan, Mark Heinrich Our Organizations: joggers, Residents, Officials, Control Committee, Farmers, Health, Friendicoes, Thomson Locations: DELHI, New Delhi, Swiss, Pakistani, Lahore, Delhi, India, Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Mumbai, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka

☆ Air pollution in India's New Delhi turns 'severe,' some schools shut
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-03 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Heavy smog seen engulfed amid rise in pollution levels at Barakhamba on Nov. 2, 2023 in New Delhi, India. People in New Delhi woke up to a thick layer of toxic haze on Friday, and some schools were ordered to be shut for two days as the air quality index (AQI) entered the "severe" category in several parts of the Indian capital. A filthy smog forms over Delhi every winter as cold, heavy air traps construction dust, vehicle emissions and smoke from crop stubble burning in neighboring states, causing a surge in respiratory illnesses among the city's 20 million people. New Delhi topped a real-time list on Friday of the world's most polluted cities compiled by Swiss group IQAir which put the India's capital's AQI at 611 in the 'hazardous' category. "Unfavorable meteorological conditions, sudden increase in the farm fire incidents and north-westerly winds moving the pollutants to Delhi are the major causes for sudden spike in AQI," the region's Commission for Air Quality Management said on Thursday.

Organizations: Residents, region's Commission, Air Quality Management Locations: New Delhi, India, Delhi, Swiss

☆ Air pollution sparks alarm, dims World Cup cheer in India
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-02 | by ( Blassy Boben | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

An aerial view shows residential buildings and a stadium shrouded in smog in New Delhi, India, October 27, 2023. Air Quality Index (AQI) stood at 415 on a scale of 500 in the capital's Anand Vihar area on Thursday, indicating "severe" levels of pollution that can affect healthy people and those with existing ailments. The dip in air quality in the region during the winter months is often accompanied by a spike in respiratory illnesses, spurring school and factory closings. The worsening air quality has cast a shadow over the cricket World Cup as fans flock to stadiums across Indian cities. Players have expressed concern about the toxic air, with England's Joe Root complaining of breathing difficulties during a game and India's Rohit Sharma urging change for "future generations".

Persons: Altaf Hussain, Anand, Joe Root, India's Rohit Sharma, Gerry Doyle Organizations: REUTERS, BCCI, Thomson Locations: New Delhi, India, DELHI, Delhi, Anand Vihar, Pakistan's Lahore, Swiss, India's Mumbai, AQI, Mumbai, Sri Lanka

☆ Marathoners in Beijing go maskless, unfazed by smog
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-29 | by ( Liz Lee | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/4] Participants take part in the Beijing Marathon, at Tiananmen Square in Beijing, China October 29, 2023. REUTERS/Tingshu Wang Acquire Licensing RightsBEIJING, Oct 29 (Reuters) - Runners undeterred by thick smog engulfing the Chinese capital ran the Beijing Marathon maskless on Sunday, many wearing shorts in one of the warmest Octobers on record. Beijing was the fourth most-polluted major city in the world on Sunday, according to Swiss air-quality technology firm IQAir. Beijing's high on Sunday was 19 C (66 F), according to the national weather bureau. The weather bureau forecast weak cold air currents to last the rest of the month before beginning to cool in early November.

Persons: Tingshu Wang, Fang Chong, Liz Lee, Ryan Woo, Han Xiao, Bernard Orr, William Mallard Organizations: Beijing, REUTERS, Rights, Beijing Marathon, Meteorological Centre, Thomson Locations: Beijing, China, Rights BEIJING, Tiananmen, Haidian, Beijing's, Tangshan, Handan, Hebei

Forest and peat fires are an annual problem in Indonesia that strains relations with neighboring countries. In recent years, smoke from the fires has blanketed parts of Indonesia, Singapore, Malaysia and southern Thailand. Hundreds of forest fires in South Kalimantan province in Borneo island made the smoke haze even more widespread, especially during the last week. The local government has also called the students to do online learning because the air quality is unhealthy. “We are still working to handle the forest and land fires in Borneo and Sumatra islands as well as possible.

Persons: Siti Nurbaya Bakar, shouldn't, Bakar Organizations: —, Indonesian, Forestry, Associated Press, Indonesia’s Meteorology, Agency Locations: JAKARTA, Indonesia, — Indonesia, Sumatra, Borneo, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Indonesian, Malaysia’s, Kuala Lumpur, Kuching, IQAir, Swiss, South Sumatra, South Kalimantan, Central Kalimantan

☆ Indonesia launches sky train in capital, hopes to ease traffic and pollution
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-28 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/2] Indonesian President Joko Widodo speaks as he launches the Light Rail Transit (LRT) in Jakarta, Indonesia, August 28, 2023. The driverless, 41.2 km (25.6 miles) Light Rail Transit (LRT) system connects central Jakarta and its satellites cities in West Java, Bekasi and Depok. People in Greater Jakarta commonly use a 418 km (260 mile) Commuter Line which serve around 1.2 million passengers per day. The president blamed the pollution on excessive road traffic and industries using coal and said nearly 1 million vehicles enter Jakarta each day. "Jakarta is always on the top 10 of list of cities with the worst traffic jams," he said.

Persons: Joko Widodo, Antara, Hafidz Mubarak, Ananda Teresia, Martin Petty Organizations: Rail, REUTERS, Acquire, Rights, Monday, Swiss, Thomson Locations: Jakarta, Indonesia, Rights JAKARTA, Greater Jakarta, West Java, Borneo, Nusantara, Southeast

☆ Wildfire-hit British Columbia blanketed with hazardous smoke pollution
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-21 | by ( Nia Williams | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/4] A boat passes under the Lions Gate bridge to enter Vancouver Harbour, shrouded in a haze of wildfire smoke, as seen from Cypress Mountain in North Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, August 21, 2023. REUTERS/Chris Helgren Acquire Licensing RightsREVELSTOKE, British Columbia, Aug 21 (Reuters) - Millions of people in the western Canadian province of British Columbia were under air quality warnings on Monday as hundreds of wildfires filled the skies with smoke and turned the sun orange. In the cities of Kelowna and Kamloops, the air quality index (AQI) was above 350, a "hazardous" level, real-time air quality information platform IQAir showed. Wildfire smoke is a seasonal occurrence for much of heavily-forested British Columbia, but the number of wildfires and amount of land burned is trending higher as a result of climate change, increasing concerns about the impact on human health. "This type of extreme smoke event covering all of our province does not happen every year," said Jalena Bennett, smoke information specialist with BlueSky Canada, adding 2018 was the last time wildfire smoke was so widespread.

Persons: Chris Helgren, Jalena Bennett, Ash, Marie, Eve Hervieux, Bobby Sekhon, Nia Williams, Denny Thomas, Josie Kao Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, British Columbia, BlueSky, Environment, Thomson Locations: Lions, Vancouver, Cypress Mountain, North Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, Rights REVELSTOKE, Canadian, British, Kelowna, Kamloops, Lahore, Pakistan, BlueSky Canada, Shuswap Lake, Environment Canada, Metro Vancouver, Revelstoke

☆ Jakarta orders civil servants to work from home to fight soaring pollution
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-21 | by ( Heather Chen | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

“The air quality in the Greater Jakarta Area has been very, very bad,” Widodo said. ASEAN is a regional bloc that brings together 10 Southeast Asian countries, many of which have long suffered high pollution levels in their major cities. Ministers in the Southeast Asian country confirmed this week that President Widodo had been battling a cough for weeks and suggested it could be related to worsening air pollution in Jakarta. Air pollution has long plagued the Greater Jakarta area, with factories, coal-fired power plants and traffic congestion all contributing to the smog, according to experts. Experts previously told CNN the health costs of Indonesia’s air pollution cannot be underestimated.

Persons: Joko, Widodo, ” Widodo, Heru Budi, Sigit Wijatmoko, ” Wijatmoko, “, Wijatmoko, Sandiaga Uno Organizations: CNN, Jakarta Gov, CNN Indonesia, 43rd ASEAN Summit, Jakarta Convention Center, ASEAN, Ministers, Tourism, ” Tourism Locations: Jakarta, Swiss, Greater Jakarta Area, Greater Jakarta

☆ Canada to deploy military in British Columbia to tackle fast-spreading fires
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-20 | by ( Nia Williams | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

Summary British Columbia declares state of emergency after wildfiresFlames have led to evacuation orders for more than 35,000 peopleAQI of some British Columbia cities at 'hazardous' levelsREVELSTOKE, British Columbia, Aug 20 (Reuters) - Canada is sending the military to tackle fast-spreading wildfires in British Columbia, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said on Sunday, as the western province deals with flames that have led to evacuation orders for more than 35,000 people. In some cities in British Columbia, the air quality index (AQI), which measures major pollutants including particulate matter produced by fires, was above 350, a "hazardous" level, IQAir, a real-time air quality information platform showed. West Kelowna fire chief Jason Brolund said he saw some hope after battling "epic" fires for the past four days. Since 2009, Canada has been spending more on fighting and suppressing wildfires than on maintaining its firefighting personnel and program. In British Columbia, the TransCanada highway was closed near Chase, about 400 km (250 miles) northeast of Vancouver.

Persons: Justin Trudeau, Jason Brolund, that's, Brolund, Trudeau, Krista Flesjer, Kip Lumquist, Lumquist, Nia Williams, Dan Whitcomb, Nilutpal, Denny Thomas, Mark Porter, Matthew Lewis, Lisa Shumaker, Gerry Doyle, Raju Gopalakrishnan Organizations: Columbia, Flames, British Columbia, Kelowna College, ., Canadian Broadcasting Corp, Reuters, U.S ., Canadian, REUTERS Acquire, Government, Thomson Locations: Columbia, REVELSTOKE, British Columbia, Canada, British, Kelowna, U.S, U.S . Pacific Northwest, Washington, Oregon, Squilax, Kamloops, New York, U.S . East Coast, Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, Chase, Vancouver, Craigellachie, Los Angeles, Bengaluru

☆ Jakarta is the world's most polluted city. And Indonesia's leader has the cough to prove it
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-16 | by ( Heather Chen | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

Hong Kong CNN —Indonesia’s capital Jakarta is the world’s most polluted city, according to a new study, and the country’s president may have the cough to prove it. Uno said doctors were still diagnosing the cause of Widodo’s cough but added that it might be related to the worsening air quality, reported CNN affiliate CNN Indonesia. But in recent weeks air quality in the capital has become particularly bad, deteriorating to the worst in the world, according to data provided by IQAir, a Swiss air quality technology company. On August 9, Jakarta topped its list of polluted cities after registering “unhealthy” air pollution levels nearly every day, the company said. “Air pollution is a serious problem in Southeast Asia,” said political analyst Bridget Welsh from the University of Nottingham.

Persons: Joko Widodo, IQAir, ”, Sandiaga Uno, Uno, Budi Gunadi Sadikin, ” Budi, Widodo, ” Widodo, Bridget Welsh Organizations: Hong Kong CNN —, Tourism, Creative, Sandiaga, CNN, CNN Indonesia, Central, IQAir, Skyscrapers, Getty, University of Nottingham, “ Locations: Hong Kong, Jakarta, Swiss, AFP, Greater Jakarta, Central Jakarta, Greater Jakarta Area, Jakarta –, Southeast Asia, Nusantara, East Kalimantan, Borneo

☆ Indonesia plans random emission tests on motorists as poor air chokes Jakarta
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-14 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

JAKARTA, Aug 14 (Reuters) - Indonesia's capital will force drivers to undergo emission tests, officials said on Monday, amid deteriorating air quality that has made Jakarta one of the world's most polluted cities. Jakarta has been consistently ranked among the 10 most polluted cities globally since May and last week topped global rankings compiled by Swiss air quality technology company IQAir. "We will start in Jakarta and when it gets better, we will expand it to greater Jakarta," environment minister Siti Nurbaya Bakar told a press conference. President Widodo also advised companies to impose hybrid working and urged weather modification in Greater Jakarta, saying dry weather was contributing to pollution. "Also, keep monitoring the industrial sector and power plants mainly surrounding Greater Jakarta," he told ministers.

Persons: Joko Widodo, Sandiaga Uno, Siti Nurbaya Bakar, Widodo, Ananda Teresia, Martin Petty, Susan Fenton Organizations: Swiss, Jakarta, Thomson Locations: JAKARTA, Jakarta, Greater Jakarta, Indonesia

CNN —Smoke from more than 1,000 wildfires burning across Canada has wafted over the northern US, bringing poor air quality and pollution that threaten residents’ health to northern US cities including Chicago, Illinois, and Minneapolis, Minnesota. The bulk of the country’s wildfires are burning in British Columbia, where more than 460 fires are ongoing, the agency reports. The EPA in Illinois has declared an “Air Pollution Action Day” through Tuesday due to the “persistent” wildfire smoke causing elevated air pollution in the region. Wildfire smoke is packed with tiny pollutants – known as particulate matter – that can infiltrate the lungs and blood stream if inhaled. Hundreds of British Columbia’s fires have been ignited by lightning strikes from thunderstorms, according to the British Columbia Wildfire Service.

Persons: Wednesday – Organizations: CNN, Canadian Interagency Forest Fire, National Weather Service, Wednesday, US Centers for Disease Control, Prevention, Canada, British Columbia, Canadian Armed Forces, Public Safety Canada, British Columbia Wildfire Service Locations: Canada, Chicago , Illinois, Minneapolis , Minnesota, Chicago , Minneapolis, Detroit , Michigan, Great, British Columbia, Michigan, Minnesota , Wisconsin , Illinois, Indiana, Montana, Vermont, Alabama, Midwest, Minneapolis, Chicago, Illinois, Wisconsin, Europe, Australia, Brazil, British

☆ Factbox: From Hawaii to Kentucky, a mix of severe weather
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-19 | by ( Brendan O'Brien | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

REUTERS/Adrees LatifJuly 19 (Reuters) - Severe weather disrupted parts of the United States on Wednesday, with a tropical storm skirting Hawaii, thunderstorms knocking out power in Kentucky and Tennessee and a relentless heat wave stubbornly parked over the Southwest. The zone of extreme heat could expand into the northern Plains and Midwest beginning the middle of next week, the weather service said. TROPICAL STORM, POWER OUTAGESIn the Hawaiian Islands, Tropical Storm Calvin lashed the Big Island on Wednesday with strong winds and heavy downpours as it slowly passed south of the Pacific archipelago. Hawaii Governor Josh Green declared a state of emergency, closing all state offices and schools in anticipation of the storm. New York, the most populous city in the United States, was listed on Wednesday morning as No.

Persons: Olivia, Evelyn Black, Adrees Latif, Storm Calvin, Josh Green, Brendan O'Brien, Jonathan Oatis Organizations: REUTERS, National Weather Service, Texas Tribune, Austin, Texas Department, Criminal, Thomson Locations: Fountains, Discovery, Houston , Texas, U.S, United States, Hawaii, Kentucky, Tennessee, Canada, Southern California, San Bernardino , California, Phoenix, San Antonio , Texas, Midwest, TEXAS, Texas, Austin, Hawaiian, Virginia, Carolinas, East Coast, New York, Chicago

☆ Half of Americans face stifling heat, poor air quality
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-30 | by ( Brendan O'Brien | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Go NakamuraCHICAGO, June 30 (Reuters) - Half of the U.S. population was urged on Friday to take precautions when they are outdoors, either due to a relentless heat wave or poor air quality caused by Canadian wildfires ahead of the long Fourth of July weekend. To the north, across the Midwest and East, another 100 million Americans faced another day of smoky skies and poor air quality alerts due to raging wildfires in Canada. The weather service said individuals, especially those who are young, elderly and suffer from respiratory problems, should consider limiting strenuous outdoor activities in those areas. New York and Washington had the second and third worst air quality respectively of any major cities around the globe, according to IQAir.com, which tracks global air pollution. Some people in eastern Illinois and western Indiana faced a hot and humid day of compromised air quality on Friday without electricity after fierce storms on Thursday evening knocked down power lines and trees.

Persons: Marc Newman, Go Nakamura CHICAGO, Brendan O'Brien, Jonathan Oatis Organizations: REUTERS, National Weather Service, Midwest, Thomson Locations: Houston , Texas, U.S, California, Mississippi, East, Canada, New York, Washington, Illinois, Indiana, Chicago

☆ Four North American cities now near worst air quality in the world
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-30 | by ( Rohan Goswami | In Rohangoswamicnbc | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Four of the five cities with the worst air quality in the world are in North America, including New York, a grim distinction fueled by devastating forest fires across Canada that have sent smoky air across the continent, according to data tracked by IQAir. New York City now has the second-worst air quality in the world with a recorded air quality index of 162, lagging only Jakarta. Anything above an AQI of 150 is considered "unhealthy" air. There, air quality is slightly better than the other three North American cities on the list, with an AQI of 122. Kathy Hochul warned citizens that potentially dangerous air quality reflected a grim distinction for state residents.

Persons: Kathy Hochul, Hochul, Cat Clifford Organizations: Trade Center, IQAir, Montreal, D.C, Canadian, New York Gov Locations: Manhattan, New York City, Jersey City , New Jersey, North America, New York, Canada, IQAir . New York City, Jakarta, Toronto, Washington

☆ More than 100 million Americans at risk as Canadian wildfire smoke spreads
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-29 | by ( Brendan O'Brien | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

More than 100 million Americans were urged to limit prolonged outdoor activities, and, if needed, wear a mask if they suffer from pulmonary or respiratory diseases. People living in major U.S. cities such as New York, Chicago and Philadelphia may see murky skies and smell burning wood throughout the day. "The air quality in Chicago has been dreadful, giving me brutal migraines. The air-quality alerts were triggered by drifting smoke from wildfires burning in Canada, which is wrestling with its worst-ever start to wildfire season. An area of 8 million hectares (19.8 million acres), bigger than West Virginia, has already burned.

Persons: Quinn Glabicki CHICAGO, Eric Adams, Brendan O'Brien, Alison Williams, Mark Porter Organizations: U.S ., REUTERS, Midwest, National Weather Service, York City, Twitter, Thomson Locations: Mount Washington, U.S . Midwest, East, Pittsburgh , Pennsylvania, U.S, United States, Wisconsin, Illinois, Michigan, New York, East Coast, Chicago, Philadelphia, York, Canada, West Virginia, Pacific, Atlantic, Midwest, South

How has the smoke affected air quality in the American Midwest? Image Chicago on Tuesday, where the Air Quality Index reached “very unhealthy” levels. Canada wildfires Burned Hotspots Source: Canadian Wildland Fire Information SystemHow far has Canadian wildfire smoke spread? In Canada, Environment Canada warned Tuesday that air quality would deteriorate overnight in Toronto, Canada’s largest city and financial capital. Poor air quality has also buffeted Montreal, where the sun has appeared in recent days as a lurid red dot.

Persons: Kamil Krzaczynski, Judson Jones Organizations: NASA, Agence France, Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre, Environment Locations: Canada, Quebec, American, Europe, Coast, United States, New York City, Washington, Minnesota, Chicago, Detroit, Milwaukee, Swiss, Green Bay, Wis, Grand Rapids, Mich, East, ., Portugal, Spain, France, Toronto, Canada’s, Montreal, Mont Tremblant, Ontario, New York

☆ What to Know About Canadian Wildfires and U.S. Air Quality
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-28 | by ( Dan Bilefsky | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

How has the smoke affected air quality in the American Midwest? On Tuesday, Canada’s wildfires were worsening air quality in Chicago, Detroit and Milwaukee, among other places. In Chicago, the Air Quality Index reached 209 by noon on Tuesday, the worst reading of any major city in the world for the day, according to IQAir, a Swiss air-quality technology company. In Green Bay, Wis., the index was 175; in Grand Rapids, Mich., it soared to 255. Any reading above 100 on the index is a warning to people with respiratory conditions to take precautions.

Organizations: NASA Locations: Canada, Quebec, American, Europe, Coast, United States, New York City, Washington, Minnesota, Chicago, Detroit, Milwaukee, Swiss, Green Bay, Wis, Grand Rapids, Mich

CNN —Over 80 million people from the Midwest to the East Coast are under air quality alerts as smoke from the Canadian wildfires sweep across the US border Tuesday, prompting beach closures, warnings about reduced visibility and calls to stay indoors. Chicago and Detroit had the worst air quality in the world Tuesday night. Detroit’s air at one point reached a “very unhealthy”Air Quality Index of 203, before dropping below 200 to the “unhealthy” level, according to IQAir. Chicago registered an Air Quality Index of 175 late Tuesday. “The most protective option when air is unhealthy for you is to stay indoors with air conditioning, reduce strenuous activities and limit outdoor activities.

Persons: Copernicus, –, “, Kathy Hochul Organizations: CNN, Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre, National Weather Service, . Chicago, Chicago Public Schools, Facebook, Drivers, Mackinac Bridge Authority, Michigan Department of Health, Human Services, Indianapolis, ., New, ”, New York State, Coordinating Agency, Centers for Disease Control Locations: Midwest, East, Canada, Iowa , Wisconsin , Illinois , Indiana , Michigan, Delaware, Maryland, Kansas , Missouri, Minnesota , Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, Virginia, Chicago, Detroit, IQAir, Evanston , Illinois, Michigan, Mackinac, . New York, New York City, New, ” In Ohio, NY, Cleveland, Ohio

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