WOCN21 CWQT 110105
SPECIAL AIR QUALITY STATEMENT
FOR NOVA SCOTIA
UPDATED BY ENVIRONMENT CANADA AND THE NOVA SCOTIA DEPARTMENT OF 
HEALTH AND WELLNESS
AT 10:05 P.M. ADT WEDNESDAY 10 AUGUST 2016.
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SPECIAL AIR QUALITY STATEMENT FOR:
      LUNENBURG COUNTY
      QUEENS COUNTY
      ANNAPOLIS COUNTY
      KINGS COUNTY
      HANTS COUNTY.

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==DISCUSSION==

SMOKE ASSOCIATED WITH A FOREST FIRE IN THE VICINITY OF SEVEN MILE 
LAKE IN WESTERN NOVA SCOTIA WILL CONTINUE TO AFFECT PORTIONS OF 
ANNAPOLIS, QUEENS, LUNENBURG, KINGS AND HANTS COUNTIES TONIGHT. 
REDUCED AIR QUALITY CAN BE EXPECTED DOWNWIND AND IN THE VICINITY OF 
THE SMOKE PLUME. HIGHER POLLUTION LEVELS ARE EXPECTED TO PERSIST 
THROUGH THURSDAY. IN ADDITION, HUMIDEX VALUES OF 35 TO 39 ARE 
EXPECTED OVER INLAND AREAS OF MAINLAND NOVA SCOTIA ON THURSDAY, AND 
THIS MAY ALSO CAUSE HEALTH PROBLEMS FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE VULNERABLE.

INDIVIDUALS MAY EXPERIENCE SYMPTOMS SUCH AS INCREASED COUGHING, 
THROAT IRRITATION, HEADACHES OR SHORTNESS OF BREATH. CHILDREN, 
SENIORS, AND THOSE WITH CARDIOVASCULAR OR LUNG DISEASE, SUCH AS 
ASTHMA, ARE ESPECIALLY AT RISK. IN GENERAL, WEARING A MASK IS NOT 
THE BEST WAY TO PROTECT YOUR HEALTH DURING A SMOKE EVENT. IN FACT, 
MASKS MAY LEAD TO A FALSE SENSE OF SECURITY, WHICH MAY ENCOURAGE 
INCREASED PHYSICAL ACTIVITY AND TIME SPENT OUTDOORS, MEANING 
INCREASED EXPOSURE TO SMOKE. THEY CAN ALSO MAKE BREATHING MORE 
DIFFICULT. PEOPLE WITH LUNG DISEASES, SUCH AS ASTHMA AND COPD, CAN 
BE PARTICULARLY SENSITIVE TO AIR POLLUTION. THEY WILL GENERALLY 
EXPERIENCE MORE SERIOUS HEALTH EFFECTS AT LOWER LEVELS. POLLUTION 
CAN AGGRAVATE THEIR DISEASES, LEADING TO INCREASED MEDICATION USE, 
DOCTOR AND EMERGENCY ROOM VISITS, AND HOSPITAL VISITS. STAY INSIDE 
IF YOU HAVE BREATHING DIFFICULTIES. FIND AN INDOOR PLACE THAT'S COOL 
AND VENTILATED. USING AN AIR CONDITIONER THAT COOLS AND FILTERS AIR 
MAY HELP. IF YOU OPEN THE WINDOWS YOU MAY LET IN MORE POLLUTED AIR. 
IF YOUR HOME ISN'T AIR-CONDITIONED, CONSIDER GOING TO A PUBLIC PLACE 
(LIBRARY, SHOPPING MALL, RECREATION CENTRE) THAT IS AIR-CONDITIONED. 
VISIT 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/ASPC