Wildfire smoke puts millions of Americans on alert for unhealthy air quality

WASHINGTON, June 29 (Audio) As wildfire smoke from Canada continues to drift into the United States, millions of Americans are wary of unhealthy air quality.

The US National Weather Service (NWS) issued air quality warnings late Wednesday for at least 20 states, from Minnesota south to Georgia, news agencies reported.

Air pollution warnings have spread throughout New York and the Northeast, including New Jersey.

“Unhealthy levels of smoke are expected over large areas of the Midwest. Smoke from wildfires in Canada affecting region,” NWS tweeted.

“If you must go outdoors, take breaks indoors and consider using an N-95 mask to reduce the fumes you inhale,” the NWS suggests.

Wildfire smoke from Canada is now covering large swathes of the United States.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), wildfire smoke and ash can irritate the eyes, nose, throat, and lungs, cause coughing and wheezing, and cause difficulty breathing.

The most effective way to protect yourself from wildfire smoke is to stay indoors or limit the amount of time you spend outdoors. This is especially important for people with heart and lung disease, who are at higher risk of adverse health effects, the CDC added.