Wildfire smoke carries short- and long-term health risks, Alberta experts warn – CBC
‘No safe level’ of tiny particles in wildfire smoke
Jun 12, 2025
As Alberta faces the prospect of another summer plagued by wildfire smoke, experts are urging people to monitor conditions and take steps to protect their long-term health.
Environment Canada issued an air quality warning for the city of Calgary on Wednesday as the Air Quality Health Index (AQHI) hit levels indicating very high risk.
Fires are already burning in parts of Western Canada, and a mix of dry conditions and hot weather could further increase the risk of wildfires in the coming months, Environment Canada warned this week.
“This is awful that we’re facing another potential summer of this poor air quality and wildfire smoke,” said Kerri Johannson, a Calgary-based pulmonary physician.
“We know that long-term exposure to air pollution — and this is exactly what this is — is a risk factor for all sorts of chronic diseases.”
