Canadian smoke brings unhealthy air to Ohio farm country

By Joel Penhorwood

Canadian wildfire smoke is again creating air quality concerns across Ohio, with state officials urging farmers and others who work outdoors to limit strenuous activity when possible.

Bob Hodanbosi, chief of the Ohio EPA Division of Air Pollution Control, said more than 800 individual wildfires were believed to be burning in Canada, with smoke moving into the northern United States. At the time of the interview, unhealthy air quality readings were being reported in areas including Toledo, Cleveland, Canton and Youngstown.

The Air Quality Index, or AQI, is used to communicate how clean or polluted the air is and what health effects may be associated with current conditions. Readings from zero to 50 are considered good, while 51 to 100 are moderate. Values above 100 become unhealthy for sensitive groups, including people with asthma and other respiratory conditions.

Hodanbosi said some Ohio locations had climbed above 150, with isolated readings surpassing 200 and reaching the “very unhealthy” category.… Continue reading