High levels of wildfire smoke in Toronto, special air quality statement issued
Environment Canada issued a special air quality statement Sunday for various regions across Ontario, including the Greater Toronto Area.
The statement was issued due to high levels of wildfire smoke in the province, which can cause increased air pollution and reduced visibility.
“Smoke plumes from active forest fires in northwestern Ontario might affect portions of southern Ontario this afternoon. Particulate matter combining with ground level ozone may deteriorate the air quality,” a release on the statement issued reads.
The agency warns residents who are exposed to wildfire smoke to take extra precautions, adding that wildfire smoke is a “constantly-changing mixture of particles and gases which includes many chemicals that can be harmful to your health,” especially to children, seniors and those with cardiovascular or lung disease.
Look out for symptoms such as increased coughing, throat irritation, headaches or shortness of breath.
Conditions may persist into Monday, according to Environment Canada.
This week, hundreds of evacuees from northwestern Ontario First Nations were forced to call a Mississauga hotel their temporary home after wildfires threatened their communities.
According to Ontario's Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry, as of July 24, there were over 150 active fires burning in the province.
The full list of regions with special air quality statements issued can be viewed here.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Several flight attendants from Pakistan have gone missing after landing in Canada
Multiple flight attendants from Pakistan International Airlines have abandoned their jobs and are believed to have sought asylum in Canada in the past year and a half, a spokesperson for the government-owned airline says.
BREAKING Ottawa public school board, 3 Toronto-area school boards launch lawsuit against social media giants
The Ottawa-Carleton District School Board and three school boards in the Toronto-area have launched legal action against social media giants, accusing them of "disrupting students' fundamental right to education."
Rainfall warnings of up to 90 mm among weather alerts in effect for 7 provinces
Rainfall warnings of up to 90 millimetres, air quality advisories and other alerts have been issued for seven Canadian provinces, according to the latest forecasts.
Tipping is off the table at this Toronto restaurant
A Toronto restaurant introduced a surprising new rule that reduced the cost of a meal and raised the salaries of staff.
A Nigerian woman reviewed some tomato puree online. Now she faces jail
A Nigerian woman who wrote an online review of a can of tomato puree is facing imprisonment after its manufacturer accused her of making a “malicious allegation” that damaged its business.
Donald Trump assails judge and his daughter after gag order in N.Y. hush-money criminal case
Donald Trump lashed out Wednesday at the New York judge who put him under a gag order that bars him from commenting publicly about witnesses, prosecutors, court staff and jurors in his upcoming hush-money criminal trial.
A fight to protect the dignity of Michelangelo's David raises questions about freedom of expression
Michelangelo's David has been a towering figure in Italian culture since its completion in 1504. But in the current era of the quick buck, curators worry the marble statue's religious and political significance is being diminished.
Doctors visiting a Gaza hospital are stunned by the war's toll on Palestinian children
An international team of doctors visiting a hospital in central Gaza was prepared for the worst. But the gruesome impact Israel’s war against Hamas is having on Palestinian children still left them stunned.
China's latest EV is a 'connected' car from smart phone and electronics maker Xiaomi
Xiaomi, a well-known maker of smart consumer electronics in China, is joining the country's booming but crowded market for electric cars.