420  
WOCN21 CYQX 271400  
SPECIAL AIR QUALITY STATEMENT  
FOR NEWFOUNDLAND  
UPDATED BY ENVIRONMENT CANADA, THE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT AND  
CLIMATE CHANGE AND THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND COMMUNITY SERVICES  
OF NEWFOUNDLAND AND LABRADOR  
AT 11:30 A.M. NDT WEDNESDAY 27 SEPTEMBER 2023.  
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SPECIAL AIR QUALITY STATEMENT FOR:  
NEWFOUNDLAND.  
 
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==DISCUSSION==  
 
SMOKE IS CAUSING OR EXPECTED TO CAUSE POOR AIR QUALITY AND REDUCED  
VISIBILITY.  
 
LOCATIONS: NEWFOUNDLAND.  
 
TIME SPAN: CONTINUING FOR THE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS.  
 
REMARKS: PLUMES OF SMOKE FROM DISTANT WILDFIRES ARE EXPECTED TO  
CONTINUE DRIFTING OVER THE ISLAND FOR THE REMAINDER OF THIS WEEK.  
LOCAL AIR QUALITY WILL BE REDUCED AT TIMES WHERE SMOKE DESCENDS TO  
THE SURFACE. ASSOCIATED HAZE WILL CAUSE SOME REDUCTIONS TO  
VISIBILITY AND WILL GIVE THE SUN A REDDISH APPEARANCE.  
 
WILDFIRE SMOKE CAN BE HARMFUL TO EVERYONE'S HEALTH EVEN AT LOW  
CONCENTRATIONS. EVERYONE CAN TAKE ACTION TO REDUCE THEIR EXPOSURE TO  
WILDFIRE SMOKE.  
 
PEOPLE WITH LUNG DISEASE (SUCH AS ASTHMA) OR HEART DISEASE, OLDER  
ADULTS, CHILDREN, PREGNANT PEOPLE, AND PEOPLE WHO WORK OUTDOORS ARE  
AT HIGHER RISK OF EXPERIENCING HEALTH EFFECTS CAUSED BY WILDFIRE  
SMOKE. SPEAK WITH YOUR HEALTH CARE PROVIDER ABOUT DEVELOPING A  
MANAGEMENT PLAN FOR WILDFIRE SMOKE EVENTS AND MAINTAINING A SUPPLY  
OF NECESSARY MEDICATIONS AT HOME AND ALWAYS CARRYING THESE  
MEDICATIONS WITH YOU DURING WILDFIRE SEASON.  
 
STOP OR REDUCE YOUR ACTIVITY LEVEL IF BREATHING BECOMES  
UNCOMFORTABLE OR YOU OR SOMEONE IN YOUR CARE FEEL UNWELL. CONTACT  
YOUR HEALTH CARE PROVIDER OR LOCAL HEALTH AUTHORITY IF YOU DEVELOP  
SEVERE SYMPTOMS OR NEED ADVICE.  
 
CHECK THE AIR QUALITY HEALTH INDEX (AQHI) AND MONITOR YOUR SYMPTOMS.  
PEOPLE RESPOND DIFFERENTLY TO SMOKE. MILD IRRITATION AND DISCOMFORT  
ARE COMMON, AND USUALLY DISAPPEAR WHEN THE SMOKE CLEARS. DRINKING  
LOTS OF WATER CAN HELP YOUR BODY COPE WITH THE SMOKE.  
 
IF YOU HAVE AN HVAC SYSTEM IN YOUR HOME, USE THE HIGHEST RATED MERV  
FILTER FOR YOUR SYSTEM (IDEALLY RATED 13 OR HIGHER) AND SET THE FAN  
TO RECIRCULATE AIR CONSTANTLY. YOU CAN ALSO USE A PORTABLE HIGH  
EFFICIENCY PARTICULATE AIR (HEPA) AIR CLEANER. KEEP YOUR DOORS AND  
WINDOWS CLOSED IF THE TEMPERATURE IN YOUR HOME IS COMFORTABLE.  
 
TAKE A BREAK FROM THE SMOKE AT A LOCATION IN YOUR COMMUNITY WHERE  
YOU CAN FIND CLEAN, COOL AIR.  
 
IF YOU MUST SPEND TIME OUTDOORS, A WELL-FITTED RESPIRATOR TYPE MASK  
(SUCH AS A NIOSH CERTIFIED N95 OR EQUIVALENT RESPIRATOR) THAT DOES  
NOT ALLOW AIR TO PASS THROUGH SMALL OPENINGS BETWEEN THE MASK AND  
FACE, CAN HELP REDUCE YOUR EXPOSURE TO THE FINE PARTICLES IN SMOKE.  
THESE FINE PARTICLES GENERALLY POSE THE GREATEST RISK TO HEALTH.  
HOWEVER, RESPIRATORS DO NOT REDUCE EXPOSURE TO THE GASES IN WILDFIRE  
SMOKE. IT IS IMPORTANT TO LISTEN TO YOUR BODY AND REDUCE OR STOP  
ACTIVITIES IF YOU ARE EXPERIENCING SYMPTOMS.  
 
BE SURE TO CHECK ON PEOPLE IN YOUR CARE AND THOSE AROUND YOU WHO MAY  
BE MORE SUSCEPTIBLE TO SMOKE.  
 
REDUCE SOURCES OF INDOOR AIR POLLUTION. IF YOU CAN, AVOID SMOKING OR  
VAPING INDOORS, BURNING INCENSE AND CANDLES, FRYING FOODS, USING  
WOOD STOVES AND VACUUMING. DUST ON INDOOR SURFACES CAN BE REMOVED BY  
WIPING AND WET MOPPING DURING A POLLUTION EPISODE.  
 
IF YOU EXPERIENCE ANY FEELINGS OF STRESS, ANXIETY, OR DEPRESSION,  
CONTACT YOUR MENTAL HEALTH CARE PROVIDER FOR ADVICE OR VISIT  
HTTPS://WWW.WELLNESSTOGETHER.CA/EN-CA.  
 
VISIT HTTP://WWW.AIRHEALTH.CA FOR INFORMATION ON HOW TO REDUCE YOUR  
HEALTH RISK AND YOUR PERSONAL CONTRIBUTION TO POLLUTION LEVELS, AS  
WELL AS FOR CURRENT AND FORECAST AQHI VALUES.  
 
PLEASE CONTINUE TO MONITOR ALERTS AND FORECASTS ISSUED BY  
ENVIRONMENT CANADA.  
 
HTTP://WEATHER.GC.CA  
 
END/NLWO  
 
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