Maryland residents face a Code Red air quality alert as Canadian wildfire smoke worsens, with health officials urging precautions to avoid respiratory and vascular complications.
The Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) has issued a Code Red air quality alert for Friday, with parts of Maryland under a Code Orange air quality alert on Thursday as Canadian wildfire smoke spreads across the Mid-Atlantic. Health officials warn that prolonged exposure to the polluted air could lead to severe respiratory issues, chest pain, and vascular complications, particularly for vulnerable groups like children, older adults, and those with preexisting conditions.
Code Red Alert and Health Risks
The MDE’s Code Red alert for Friday signals air quality that is unhealthy for everyone, with particulate matter from distant wildfires posing significant risks. Dr. Panagis Galiatsatos, a pulmonologist at Johns Hopkins Medicine, explained that the fine particles in the smoke can travel hundreds of miles and penetrate deep into the lungs, causing inflammation and exacerbating heart conditions. It is pretty common to see after bad air quality days, three or four days later or a week later, patients coming into the emergency room with chest pain or a stroke because they've developed these vascular complications,
Galiatsatos told WBAL-TV 11 News.
Joel Dreessen, air quality meteorologist and deputy program manager for MDE’s Air Monitoring Program, advised residents to limit outdoor activity and avoid strenuous exertion during peak pollution hours. You don’t need to be exercising when concentrations are at unhealthy levels. We’re just, as a broad message, trying to let people understand that this can have impacts to health,
Dreessen said. The smoke is expected to worsen on Friday before improving by the weekend, according to MDE forecasts.
Understanding the AQI Scale
The Air Quality Index (AQI), which ranges from 0 to 500, provides a standardized way to measure pollution levels. A Code Red alert corresponds to an AQI of 151–200, indicating that the air is unhealthy for the general population. Health experts explain that at this level, sensitive groups may experience coughing, wheezing, and chest tightness, while the broader population could face health issues. The EPA categorizes AQI levels as follows: Green (0–50), Yellow (51–100), Orange (101–150), Red (151–200), Purple (201–300), and Maroon (301–500).
Mehak Gandhi, MD, with Hartford HealthCare Medical Group, emphasized that the AQI helps individuals assess their risk. The air quality index helps us understand how likely the outdoor air is to affect our health,
Gandhi said. A higher number means there is more pollution in the air and a greater chance of experiencing respiratory symptoms.
Expert Advice on Protection
Experts highlighted the importance of checking local AQI updates and adjusting outdoor plans accordingly. Advice includes avoiding indoor activities that increase pollution, such as burning candles or fires, and vacuuming, and to keep windows closed. Plan your day accordingly to limit your exposure, and if you do have to be outside, find ways to limit the amount of air that you’re breathing over time,
Dreessen said.
Regional Impact and Future Outlook
Reports indicated that some areas in Detroit reached as high as 754 on Thursday morning. The EPA’s standard AQI scale classifies values above 300 as hazardous, but extreme events like wildfires can push readings beyond 500.
As the smoke clears, officials expect air quality to improve by the weekend. However, residents are urged to remain vigilant, especially those with chronic health conditions. Nothing we’re doing is an emergency, so it’s best for them not to have an emergency,
said Dave Sakin, owner of Value Remodeling, who shared precautions his company takes for workers in challenging weather. If it looks like it’s going to be too warm, I discuss with them, ‘If you don’t feel well, leave.’
Public health strategies emphasize the need to protect vulnerable populations from prolonged exposure to poor air quality.
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