New York’s air pollution among world’s worst as Canadian wildfires blanket Northeast in smoke

New York was the world’s most polluted major city on Tuesday night, as smoke from raging Canadian wildfires shrouded the northern region in haze, darkening skies and triggering health alerts, according to the IQAir website.

Pollution levels in the city were higher than those in Baghdad, Iraq, and the Indian capital Delhi at 1:25 am New York time, the Swiss air quality company reported. The figures were deemed to be in the “unhealthy” range.

In addition to NYC, other North American cities were also heavily impacted by the smoke from the unprecedented wildfires, estimated by government officials to have already burned down around 8.2 million acres. Detroit in the US was affected particularly badly.

In a statement from Tuesday night, NYC Mayor Eric Adams said an Air Quality Health Advisory had been issued, and while conditions were predicted to get better through Wednesday morning, they could get worse as the day progresses.

He recommended all New Yorkers to limit outdoor activities as much as possible. At 01:05 am, the US Air Quality Index for the city touched 222 on a scale ranging between 0-500, putting the air in the “very unhealthy” category.

Meanwhile, neighbouring Canada is on its way to its worst-ever wildfire season if the rate at which vast swathes of land are burning continues. Around 413 fires are currently burning and tens of thousands of Canadians have been compelled to escape.