The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy has extended an Air Quality Advisory due to elevated levels of smoke from Canadian wildfires. Pollutants in the form of fine particulates (PM 2.5) are expected to be in the Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups range. The Air Quality Advisory includes the following counties: Van Buren, Kalamazoo, Calhoun, and Jackson. It is recommended that, when possible, you avoid strenuous outdoor activities, especially those with heart disease and respiratory diseases like asthma. Monitor for symptoms such as wheezing, coughing, chest tightness, dizziness, or burning in nose, throat, and eyes. Reduce or eliminate activities that contribute to air pollution, such as outdoor burning, and use of residential wood burning devices. Tips for households: Keep windows closed overnight to prevent smoke from getting indoors and, if possible, run central air conditioning with MERV-13 or higher rated filters. For up-to-date air quality data for Michigan visit the MiAir site: https://air-egle.hub.arcgis.com/ For up-to-date air quality data nationally visit EPAs Air Now site: https://www.airnow.gov/ For further health information, please see MDHHS Wildfire Smoke and Your Health site: https://www.michigan.gov/mdhhs/safety-injury-prev/environmental- health/your-health-and-wildfire-smoke
