Air Quality

Air quality is a measure of how clean or polluted the air is, and how safe it is to breathe. Poor air quality can happen because of pollution, hot, dry weather, or wildfire smoke. It can harm health and some people are more vulnerable to these impacts.

The levels of pollutants in the air are measured at stations across the country. Pollutants include tiny particles (PM2.5/PM10), ground‑level ozone (O3) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2). The measurements are used to determine the Air Quality Health Index (AQHI) for that region. The AQHI shows the level of risk on a scale from 1 (low) to 10+ (very high). Find more information about AQHI from the Government of Canada.

Image from: Workplace Safety and Prevention Services

 

Air Quality warnings are jointly issued by Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) and the Ontario Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks, when AQHI is forecast to reach a level of 7 or higher: 

  • AQHI 7-10 leads to a Yellow Air Quality warning
  • AQHI 10+ leads to an Orange Air Quality warning 

Smoke from wildfires can travel hundreds of thousands of kilometres from the fire and can be a major source of air pollution. Monitoring the AQHI can help you be aware of air quality and respond to changing conditions. AQHI forecasts can be found at airqualityontario.com/AQHI.  

Lakelands Public Health shares Air Quality Warnings to increase awareness and help people stay safe when poor air quality is expected. Agencies and service providers can sign up to receive email alerts when air quality warnings are issued.

Yes. As of July 15th, there are Air Quality warnings for the entire Lakelands region. Air quality conditions from wildfire smoke can change rapidly. Visit airqualityontario.com/AQHI to view the AQHI forecast for your region(s). 

Sign Up: Air Quality Alerts

Receive air quality alerts for your area directly to your email.

Sign Up

How Poor Air Quality Can Affect Your Health

Poor air quality can harm health. Pollutants in the air can affect the lungs and other parts of the body in different ways, leading to both short-term symptoms and longer-term health effects. The impact of poor air quality will vary depending on factors such as: 

  • How much pollution is in the air
  • The type of pollution
  • How often and how long someone is exposed to pollutants
  • A person's age and general health status

Mild symptoms of exposure can include: 

  • Sore and watery eyes
  • Runny nose and sinus irritation
  • Scratchy throat and mild coughing
  • Headache

More severe symptoms, which require medical attention, can include:

  • Shortness of breath
  • Wheezing or asthma attacks
  • Severe coughs
  • Dizziness
  • Chest pains or heart palpitation

Exposure can worsen existing health conditions, including respiratory and cardiac conditions. Exposure during pregnancy may impact neurodevelopment in early life. 

In the longer term, exposure can increase risk of respiratory diseases, cardiovascular disease and lung cancer.  A range of other health impacts have also been documented. 

Pollutants in wildfire smoke may pose additional health risks – see more information from Health Canada.

The risk from poor air quality is greatest for:

  • People with respiratory conditions, including asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
  • People with heart conditions
  • Infants and children, including teenagers
  • Pregnant people
  • Older adults (65+)
  • People who spend a lot of time outdoors, including outdoor workers or those without access to shelter
  • People involved in strenuous outdoor exercise

The more risk factors a person experiences, the higher their risk of health impacts. During heavy smoke conditions, everyone is at risk, regardless of age or health status. 

Reduce Your Risk

Follow the AQHI Health Messages: 

Health Risk

AQHI

Health Messages: 
At-Risk Population*

Health Messages:
General Population
Low 1-3 Enjoy your usual outdoor activities. Ideal air quality for outdoor activities.
Moderate 4-6 Consider reducing or rescheduling strenuous activities outdoors if you are experiencing symptoms. No need to modify your usual outdoor activities unless you experience symptoms such as coughing and throat irritation.
High 7-10 Reduce or reschedule strenuous activities outdoors. Children and the elderly should also take it easy. Consider reducing or rescheduling strenuous activities outdoors if you experience symptoms such as coughing and throat irritation.
Very High 10+ Avoid strenuous activities outdoors. Children and the elderly should also avoid outdoor physical exertion. Reduce or reschedule strenuous activities outdoors, especially if you experience symptoms such as coughing and throat irritation.

*People with heart or breathing problems are at greater risk. Follow your doctor's usual advice about exercising and managing your condition.

For a visual, please see the poster from Workplace Safety and Prevention Services .

When an Air Quality Warning is Issued

To help reduce your health impacts from poor air quality:

  • Limit time outdoors and consider reducing, rescheduling, or cancelling outdoor sports, activities, and events.
  • Protect your indoor air from outdoor air pollution:
    • When indoors, keep windows and doors closed as much as possible (note: when there is an extreme heat event occurring with poor air quality, prioritize keeping cool).
    • Use the highest-quality air filter that your ventilation system can handle and/or a certified portable air cleaner.
  • If you must spend time outdoors during a wildfire smoke event, a well-constructed, well-fitting and properly worn respirator type mask (such as a NIOSH-certified N95 or equivalent respirator) can reduce your exposure to the fine particles in the smoke. Even though exposure may be reduced, there can still be risks to health.
  • Check in on others who are in your care or live nearby who may be more likely to be impacted by outdoor air pollution

Health Canada has more guidance for your health when wildfire smoke is causing poor air quality.

When extreme heat and wildfire smoke occur at the same time, prioritize keeping cool. 

It can be challenging to know if you should open your windows for cooling or close your windows due to the smoke. Remember that protecting yourself from heat is the priority. If you don’t have air conditioning and the outdoor temperature is cooler than the indoor temperature, opening your windows can help cool your home. If your home is not air-conditioned and becomes too hot, seek a cooler indoor space (e.g., library, mall, recreation centre, community space, etc.).  

Find additional information from Health Canada and on Lakelands's Extreme Heat webpage.

Learn more on our Indoor Air Quality webpage.

Find an Indoor Public Centre Near You

During an Air Quality event, indoor public spaces may provide air conditioned, filtered air. Contact your municipality to find spaces near you.

For current information about indoor public spaces and other community supports, please visit the City of Kawartha Lakes website or contact the municipality at 705-324-9411 (toll‑free 1‑888‑822‑2225) for assistance.

For current information about indoor public spaces, community supports, or local services, please visit the respective municipal websites or contact their offices directly:

For current information about indoor public spaces, community supports, or local services, please visit the respective municipal websites or contact their offices directly:

For current information about indoor public spaces, community supports, and other local services, please visit the City of Peterborough’s website or by phone at: 705‑742‑7777 (toll‑free 1‑855‑738‑3755)

For current information about indoor public spaces, community supports, or local services, please visit the respective municipal websites or contact their offices directly:

For up‑to‑date information about indoor public spaces, supports, and services, please visit their official websites or contact their band offices directly:

Resources and More Information

Last Updated: July 21, 2026

 

Contact Our Team

We’re here to help. Reach out and we’ll respond as quickly as possible.

Let's Talk