Montreal usually isn’t the kind of city you’d expect to see ranked among the world’s most polluted places — but today, it’s near the top.
As of Tuesday morning, Montreal had the fifth-worst air quality of any major city on the planet, according to IQAir’s live global index. With an air quality rating of 153 as of 9:42 a.m., the city ranked higher in pollution than Jakarta, Kolkata, Shanghai, Dhaka and New Delhi — places far more commonly associated with smog and poor air conditions.
The only cities with worse air quality than Montreal this morning were Kinshasa (DR Congo), Manama (Bahrain), Santiago (Chile), and Baghdad (Iraq). Another Canadian city, Toronto, was also in the top 15 with a score of 116. For comparison, Vancouver had one of the cleanest air scores in the world at just 13.
IQAir notes that Montreal usually has good air quality but is vulnerable to environmental shifts due to its size, industrial activity, and population.
Today’s spike in pollution is largely due to wildfire smoke blowing in from the Canadian Prairies, according to a special weather statement from Environment Canada. Visibility is reduced, and the air is considered “unhealthy” for the general population, especially people with respiratory or chronic conditions, older adults, young children, and those who work outside.
Environment Canada is urging people in the Montreal Island area to avoid outdoor exercise, close windows, and consider using air purifiers or certified N95 respirators if going outside is unavoidable. The federal alert also encourages checking in on vulnerable neighbours and staying up to date with local air quality forecasts.
This comes just over a month after Montreal hit “high risk” air quality levels in early June, when thick smoke from northern Quebec wildfires triggered a red sky, burning smell, and health warnings across the city.
With temperatures expected to hit 31°C today (feeling like 40°C with the humidex) and even hotter tomorrow, authorities are also reminding Montrealers to stay cool and safe indoors if possible.
You can track live air quality data for Montreal at IQAir.com and read the latest wildfire smoke guidance at Canada.ca.
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