Smoke from wildfires in Canada is impacting air quality across Iowa and the Midwest. (Photo by Cami Koons/Iowa Capital Dispatch)
The Iowa Department of Natural Resources reported Friday that air quality in Iowa will be at levels “unhealthy for sensitive groups” through Saturday, due to smoke from wildfires in Canada.
The National Ambient Air Quality Standards advise that fine particulate matter should not exceed averages of 35 micrograms per cubic meter in a 24-hour period.
Air quality monitoring from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s AirNow site shows a majority of the state in conditions “unhealthy for sensitive groups” with fine particulate measurements above 40 micrograms per cubic meter. A north-central portion of the state was in unhealthy air quality conditions Friday afternoon, with concentrations greater than 50 micrograms per cubic meter.
DNR said while continuous monitors showed exceedances across most of the state beginning on Thursday, final particulate values will not be available until reference monitors have been manually weighed.
Older adults, people with heart or lung disease, children and outdoor workers are considered sensitive to particulate matter and are advised to limit their intense outdoor activities.
The department expects the smoky conditions will remain over Iowa until around midnight on Saturday, though some residual impacts may persist Sunday.
This is not the first time smoke from Canadian wildfires this summer have drifted down to Iowa. The last significant instance occurred in early June.
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