Wildfire smoke triggers statewide air quality alert in Michigan for Sunday and Monday
A statewide air quality alert for Michigan is in effect through Monday due to wildfire smoke, according to the state's Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy.
The advisory was in effect Saturday for the Upper Peninsula and the northern half of the Lower Peninsula due to smoke and expanded statewide on Sunday.
A cold front moved through Southeast Michigan on Saturday afternoon, resulting in a brief improvement in air quality in the area, but cooler, drier air behind the system pulled wildfire smoke with it.
Air quality on Sunday is ranging from unhealthy for sensitive groups across the Lower Peninsula to unhealthy in the Upper Peninsula, according to the National Weather Service. On Monday, conditions are expected to be unhealthy for sensitive groups statewide.
CBS News Detroit has declared Sunday and Monday NEXT Weather Alert Days due to ongoing poor air quality.
High temperatures in Southeast Michigan will be in the 70s and 80s on Sunday.
Federal officials recommend that people keep windows closed overnight to keep smoke from getting indoors and, if possible, run central air conditioning with filters that have a minimum efficiency reporting value of 13 or higher.
Dr. Abeer Berry, a cardiologist at Huron Valley Hospital, says anyone with preexisting health conditions has to be especially careful around air pollution.
"If you have an underlying heart disease, you're being exposed to air pollution, which increases inflammation both in your lungs and heart. So, it puts you at higher risk for having a heart attack or stroke, accelerates plaque buildup in your arteries and it also increases your heart rate and blood pressure. And those play a big role in whether or not you're creating a perfect environment for a cardiovascular event," Berry said.
Huron Valley Ambulance responded to 19 incidents at the Ann Arbor Art Fair on Saturday, according to Emergent Health Partners, the ambulance service's parent organization. Many were related to heat stress, officials said.
Metro Detroit had the worst air quality in the world early Thursday, resulting in numerous disruptions to community events and programs, including outdoor events.
