Wildfire Season Means Potential Low Air Quality
With the start of the summer season, it is a reminder that it is also wildfire season and, with that, the potential for periods of poor air quality. Poor air quality can result from wildfire smoke but also from pollution from industrial production or in urban centres from automobile use. The recommendations below are to help guide athletes, their coaches and other support staff with decision making if your training environment becomes impacted by poor air quality this summer.
Check for Air Quality Advisories
The above websites will help to determine the air quality that day and in the coming days and will allow some guidance on when it is safest for athletes to train outdoors. In general, early morning hours are often better for training as the air quality is better. Whenever possible, plan to exercise away from locations where air pollution levels may be higher, such as major roads and industrial worksites.
When air quality is poor, exercising indoors may be an option but it is important to ensure that the air quality indoors is also good. During times of poor air quality outdoors, air quality indoors can be improved by limiting indoor sources of pollution, optimizing ventilation and using portable air cleaners fitted with HEPA filters.
This link provides advice on how to you can improve your indoor air quality: https://ablung.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/DIY-Air-Pure-3.pdf
Check the Air Quality Ratings
When the AQHI is 1-3, it is OK to exercise outdoors as planned.
When the AQHI is 4-6, those with asthma may consider exercise outdoors, but only light activity. Those without asthma may consider normal activity.
When the AQHI is 7-10, it is recommended that those with asthma continue to avoid exercise outside. Those without asthma may consider exercising outdoors, but typically we’d recommend light activity only.
When the AQHI is rated as 10+, the recommendation is that all people avoid exercise outside.
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For all recommendations above, it is important to self monitor for symptoms. Sore throat, cough, eye irritation, nasal congestion and sneezing are all signs that the poor air quality is affecting you. So regardless of the AQHI number or your status as someone with asthma or not, you must still pay attention to how you are feeling and adjust your level of activity outdoors accordingly.
More Information
For more information on how to minimize the impact of air pollution on your training, please visit the Canadian Academy of Sport and Exercise Medicine Guidelines: https://www.casem-acmse.org/news/csep-casem-statement/
Thank you to Dr. Michael Koehle, co-author of the CASEM Guidelines, for his contribution to today’s recommendations.