Hazy skies stoke demand for N95s

By Theunis Bates, Editor at LinkedIn News

Demand for N95 masks is surging as smoke from Canadian wildfires blankets the East Coast and Midwest. The masks — widely used during the pandemic — are designed to filter out 95% of tiny airborne pollution particles that can become embedded in lung tissue, potentially causing respiratory problems and exacerbating cardiovascular conditions. Armbrust American, a mask manufacturer in Texas, told The Wall Street Journal that sales of one N95 model surged 1,600% from Tuesday to Wednesday. Home improvement chain Lowe’s reports that mask demand is up in areas affected by wildfire smoke.

By Alexander Bois-Spinelli

Engagement Editor at STAT

Over 100 million people are under alerts for unhealthy air pollution as wildfires blazing in and around Quebec are creating hazardous health conditions throughout North America. This event is now exposing the harmful effects — and health inequities — that come with air pollution.

Isabella Cueto has the story in STAT
https://lnkd.in/etYbMabk #airpollution #health

The Canada wildfires are exposing the harmful effects — and health inequities — of air pollution

www.statnews.com • 5 min read

https://www.statnews.com/2023/06/07/the-canada-wildfires-are-exposing-the-harmful-effects-and-health-inequities-of-air-pollution/?

By Katie Marriner
Data Journalist and Interactive Developer at MarketWatch

Here’s the Air-Quality Index of cities in the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic and Midwest as Canadian wildfires put many under air quality advisories.

Some notable levels:

Yesterday, New York City’s AQI reached hazardous levels as high as 353, based on hourly data from IQAir.

This morning, an AQI reading at 5:00am local time in Philadelphia was 283.

In Trenton, N.J. AQI levels reached the maroon-colored definition of hazardous (above 300) in the early morning hours of Thursday.

Cities further south saw AQI at “very unhealthy” levels, with readings between 201 and 300. Washington D.C.’s AQI hit 279 according to data from 9:00am local time.

#data #airquality #airqualityindex #wildfires

Here’s the Air-Quality Index of cities in the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic and Midwest as Canadian wildfires put many under air quality advisories.

marketwatch.com • 2 min read

https://www.marketwatch.com/story/heres-the-air-quality-index-of-cities-in-the-northeast-mid-atlantic-and-midwest-as-canadian-wildfires-put-many-under-air-quality-advisories-f3756583