Canadian Wildfires Deteriorate US Air Quality in 2023, Major Cities Hit Hardest

A recent report reveals that smoke from Canadian wildfires significantly worsened air quality across the US, with some cities experiencing up to a 50% increase in pollution levels.

• Wildfire smoke from Canada was a primary source of air pollution in major US cities, leading to significantly increased pollution levels.
• Cities like Milwaukee, Washington D.C., and Chicago were among the hardest hit, with some experiencing pollution levels up to five times WHO guidelines.
• Columbus, Ohio, was ranked the most polluted US city for the second consecutive year, followed by Chicago and Indianapolis.
• Efforts to mitigate wildfires on the West Coast have led to cleaner air, with cities like Portland and Los Angeles seeing improvements in air quality.
• The Environmental Protection Agency has tightened air pollution standards, lowering the annual average limit of PM2.5 from 12 to 9 micrograms per cubic meter of air.

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