New York City has made the list of cities with the worst air pollution in the world, due to the spread of large columns of noxious smoke from more than 100 wildfires in the Canadian province of Quebec. Smoke from wildfires in Canada has periodically affected the northeast and mid-Atlantic United States for more than a week, raising concerns about the effects of persistently poor air quality.

On Tuesday (6), the air quality index in New York peaked above 150, according to IQair, a level of pollution considered “unhealthy” for sensitive groups such as the elderly, young children and people with respiratory problems.

New York was still among the five most polluted cities in the world on Tuesday afternoon, according to IQair, along with Dhaka (Bangladesh), Jakarta (Indonesia) and New Delhi (India).

Smoke from wildfires contains extremely small particles called PM2.5, which are considered the most dangerous pollutants. When inhaled, these particles can penetrate deep into lung tissue and enter the bloodstream. The smoke comes from sources such as burning fossil fuels, dust storms and wildfires, and has been linked to a range of health problems including asthma, heart disease and other respiratory conditions.

Millions of people die each year from health problems related to air pollution. In 2016, around 4.2 million premature deaths were attributed to fine particles, according to the World Health Organization. On Tuesday, the concentration of PM2.5 in the air of New York was more than 10 times higher than the guidelines set by the WHO.

Canada is dealing with more than 150 active wildfires in Quebec this week, according to the Canadian Interagency Wildfire Centre, more than double the number of fires in any other Canadian province. So far in 2024, there have been more than 400 forest fires in Quebec, double the average for this time of year. About 9 million acres have been consumed by fire across Canada this year, with nearly half a million acres burned in Quebec alone.

Photos: Anderson Gazio